EP2243600B1 - Outil d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation utilisant un ressort à gaz et méthode de control de l'outil - Google Patents

Outil d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation utilisant un ressort à gaz et méthode de control de l'outil Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2243600B1
EP2243600B1 EP10075317.7A EP10075317A EP2243600B1 EP 2243600 B1 EP2243600 B1 EP 2243600B1 EP 10075317 A EP10075317 A EP 10075317A EP 2243600 B1 EP2243600 B1 EP 2243600B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
driver
tool
latch
lifter
fastener
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP10075317.7A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2243600A2 (fr
EP2243600A3 (fr
Inventor
Richard L. Leimbach
Shane Adams
Thomas A. Mccardle
Danny L. Bolender
Thomas W. Clark
Steve Dickinson
Joseph R. Knueven
Robert L. Lance
Dan Stolz
Ronald K. Walter
Teresa Petrocceli
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kyocera Senco Brands Inc
Original Assignee
Senco Brands Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=40522413&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP2243600(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Senco Brands Inc filed Critical Senco Brands Inc
Publication of EP2243600A2 publication Critical patent/EP2243600A2/fr
Publication of EP2243600A3 publication Critical patent/EP2243600A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2243600B1 publication Critical patent/EP2243600B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25C—HAND-HELD NAILING OR STAPLING TOOLS; MANUALLY OPERATED PORTABLE STAPLING TOOLS
    • B25C1/00—Hand-held nailing tools; Nail feeding devices
    • B25C1/04—Hand-held nailing tools; Nail feeding devices operated by fluid pressure, e.g. by air pressure
    • B25C1/047—Mechanical details
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25C—HAND-HELD NAILING OR STAPLING TOOLS; MANUALLY OPERATED PORTABLE STAPLING TOOLS
    • B25C1/00—Hand-held nailing tools; Nail feeding devices
    • B25C1/04—Hand-held nailing tools; Nail feeding devices operated by fluid pressure, e.g. by air pressure
    • B25C1/041—Hand-held nailing tools; Nail feeding devices operated by fluid pressure, e.g. by air pressure with fixed main cylinder
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25C—HAND-HELD NAILING OR STAPLING TOOLS; MANUALLY OPERATED PORTABLE STAPLING TOOLS
    • B25C1/00—Hand-held nailing tools; Nail feeding devices
    • B25C1/06—Hand-held nailing tools; Nail feeding devices operated by electric power
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25C—HAND-HELD NAILING OR STAPLING TOOLS; MANUALLY OPERATED PORTABLE STAPLING TOOLS
    • B25C5/00—Manually operated portable stapling tools; Hand-held power-operated stapling tools; Staple feeding devices therefor
    • B25C5/10—Driving means
    • B25C5/13—Driving means operated by fluid pressure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25C—HAND-HELD NAILING OR STAPLING TOOLS; MANUALLY OPERATED PORTABLE STAPLING TOOLS
    • B25C1/00—Hand-held nailing tools; Nail feeding devices
    • B25C1/04—Hand-held nailing tools; Nail feeding devices operated by fluid pressure, e.g. by air pressure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to linear fastener driving tools, and, more particularly, directed to portable tools that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners.
  • the invention is specifically disclosed as a gas spring linear fastener driving tool, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while also driving a fastener into a workpiece.
  • the piston is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, which again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke.
  • a driver member is attached to the piston, and has protrusions along its edges that are used to contact the lifter member, which lifts the driver during a return stroke.
  • a pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time.
  • the fastener driving tool uses a different type of driving device, such as a mechanical spring, to force the driver into a driving stroke.
  • Another air spring fastener driving tool is disclosed in published patent application no. US2006/0180631, by Pedicini , which uses a rack and pinion to move the piston back to its driving position.
  • the rack and pinion gear are decoupled during the drive stroke, and a sensor is used to detect this decoupling.
  • the Pedicini tool uses a release valve to replenish the air that is lost between nail drives.
  • a driving mechanism for use in a fastener driving tool which comprises: (a) a hollow cylinder comprising a cylindrical wall and having a movable piston therewithin, the hollow cylinder having a first end and a second, opposite end, the hollow cylinder containing a displacement volume created by a stroke of the piston; (b) a guide body that is substantially adjacent to the second end of the cylinder, the guide body having a receiving end, an exit end, and a passageway therebetween, the receiving end being proximal to the second end of the cylinder, the guide body being configured to receive a fastener that is to be driven from the exit end; (c) a driver member that is in mechanical communication with the piston at a third end of the driver member, the driver member having a fourth, opposite end that is sized and shaped to push the fastener from the exit end of the guide body, wherein the passageway of the guide body allows the driver member to
  • a driving mechanism for use in a fastener driving tool which comprises: (a) a hollow cylinder comprising a cylindrical wall and having a movable piston therewithin, the hollow cylinder having a first end and a second, opposite end, the hollow cylinder containing a displacement volume created by a stroke of the piston; (b) a main storage chamber that is in fluidic communication with the displacement volume of the cylinder, wherein the main storage chamber and the displacement volume are initially charged with a pressurized gas; (c) a guide body that is substantially adjacent to the second end of the cylinder, the guide body having a receiving end, an exit end, and a passageway therebetween, the receiving end being proximal to the second end of the cylinder, the guide body being configured to receive a fastener that is to be driven from the exit end; (d) an elongated driver member that is in mechanical communication with the piston at a third end of the driver member: (i) the driver member having a fourth
  • a driving mechanism for use in a fastener driving tool which comprises: (a) a hollow cylinder comprising a cylindrical wall and having a movable piston therewithin, the hollow cylinder having a first end and a second, opposite end, the hollow cylinder containing a displacement volume created by a stroke of the piston; (b) a main storage chamber that is in fluidic communication with the displacement volume of the cylinder, wherein the main storage chamber and the displacement volume are initially charged with a pressurized gas; (c) a guide body that is substantially adjacent to the second end of the cylinder, the guide body having a receiving end, an exit end, and a passageway therebetween, the receiving end being proximal to the second end of the cylinder, the guide body having an opening for receiving a fastener that is to be driven from the exit end; (d) an elongated driver member that is in mechanical communication with the piston at a third end of the driver member: (i) the driver member having
  • a driving mechanism for use in a fastener driving tool which comprises: (a) a guide body that has a receiving end, an exit end, and a passageway therebetween, the guide body being configured to receive a fastener that is to be driven from the exit end; (b) a driver actuation device that has a first end and a second end, the second end being movable; (c) an elongated driver member that is in mechanical communication with the second end of the driver actuation device at a third end of the driver member: (i) the driver member having a fourth, opposite end that is sized and shaped to push a fastener from the exit end of the guide body, wherein the passageway of the guide body allows the driver member to pass therethrough toward the exit end during a driving stroke and toward the receiving end during a return stroke, the driver member, when at a driven position, protruding toward the exit end of the guide body, and the driver member, when at a ready position,
  • a driving mechanism for use in a fastener driving tool which comprises: (a) a hollow cylinder comprising a cylindrical wall and having a movable piston therewithin, the hollow cylinder having a first end and a second, opposite end, the hollow cylinder containing a displacement volume created by a stroke of the piston; (b) a guide body that is substantially adjacent to the second end of the cylinder, the guide body having a receiving end, an exit end, and a passageway therebetween, the receiving end being proximal to the second end of the cylinder, the guide body being configured to receive a fastener that is to be driven from the exit end; (c) an elongated driver member that is in mechanical communication with the piston at a third end of the driver member: (i) the driver member having a fourth, opposite end that is sized and shaped to push a fastener into an external workpiece, wherein the passageway of the guide body allows the driver member to pass therethrough toward the
  • a driving mechanism for use in a fastener driving tool which comprises: (a) a guide body that has a receiving end, an exit end, and a passageway therebetween, the guide body being configured to receive a fastener that is to be driven from the exit end; (b) a driver actuation device that has a first end and a second end, the second end being movable; (c) an elongated driver member that is in mechanical communication with the second end of the driver actuation device at a third end of the driver member: (i) the driver member having a fourth, opposite end that is sized and shaped to push a fastener from the exit end of the guide body, wherein the passageway of the guide body allows the driver member to pass therethrough toward the exit end during a driving stroke and toward the receiving end during a return stroke, the driver member, when at a driven position, protruding toward the exit end of the guide body, and the driver member, when at a ready
  • a method for controlling a fastener driving tool comprises the following steps: (a) providing a fastener driving tool that includes: (i) a housing, (ii) a system controller, (iii) a fastener driving mechanism that moves a driver member toward an exit end of the mechanism, (iv) a prime mover that moves a lifter member which moves the driver member away from the exit end of the mechanism, (v) a latch control device that moves a latch member which has a catching surface, (vi) a safety contact element, (vii) a user-actuated trigger, and (vii) a fastener; (b) initiating a driving cycle by pressing the exit end against a workpiece and actuating the trigger, thereby: (i) causing the latch control device to activate, which moves the catching surface of the latch member to a position that does not interfere with movements of the driver member; and (ii) causing the fastener driving mechanism to force the
  • a method for controlling a fastener driving tool comprises the following steps: (a) providing a fastener driving tool that includes: (i) a housing; (ii) a system controller; (iii) a safety contact element; (iv) a user-actuated trigger; (v) a fastener; (iv) a prime mover that moves a lifter member which moves a driver member away from an exit end of the mechanism; and (vii) a fastener driving mechanism that moves the driver member toward the exit end of the mechanism, the fastener driving mechanism including: (A) a hollow cylinder comprising a cylindrical wall with a movable piston therewithin, the hollow cylinder containing a displacement volume created by a stroke of the piston, and (B) a main storage chamber that is in fluidic communication with the displacement volume of the cylinder, wherein the main storage chamber and the displacement volume are initially charged with a pressurized gas; (b) selecting,
  • a fastener driving tool which comprises: (a) a housing that contains a prime mover, and a system controller; (b) a fastener driving mechanism that includes: (i) a hollow cylinder having a movable piston therewithin, the hollow cylinder having a first end and a second, opposite end, the hollow cylinder containing a displacement volume created by a stroke of the piston, the displacement volume being initially charged with a pressurized gas; (ii) a guide body that is substantially adjacent to the second end of the cylinder, the guide body having a receiving end, an exit end, and a passageway therebetween, the receiving end being proximal to the second end of the cylinder, the guide body being configured to receive a fastener that is to be driven from the exit end; (iii) an elongated driver member that is in mechanical communication with the piston, the driver member having a driving surface that is sized and shaped to push a fastener into an external work
  • first and second preceding an element name, e.g., first pin, second pin, etc., are used for identification purposes to distinguish between similar elements, and are not intended to necessarily imply order, nor are the terms “first” and “second” intended to preclude the inclusion of additional similar elements.
  • a first embodiment of a fastener driving tool is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
  • This tool 10 is mainly designed to linearly drive fasteners such as nails and stages.
  • Tool 10 includes a handle portion 12, a fastener driver portion 14, a fastener magazine portion 16, and a fastener exit portion 18.
  • a “left” outer cover of the driver portion is indicated at 20.
  • a “top” cover is indicated at 22, while a “front” outer cover or “housing” of the driver portion is indicated at 24.
  • a “rear” cover for the handle portion is indicated at 26 (which is also the battery pack cover), while a “rear” cover of the magazine portion is indicated at 28.
  • the area of the first embodiment tool 10 in which a fastener is released is indicated approximately by the reference numeral 30, which is the "bottom” of the fastener exit portion of tool 10.
  • a safety contact element 32 extends beyond the bottom 30 of the fastener exit, and this extension of the safety contact element is depicted at 34, which is the bottom or "front” portion of the safety contact element.
  • Other elements that are depicted in FIG. 1 include a guide body 36 and a front cover 38, which are in mechanical communication with the magazine portion 16.
  • Reference numeral 60 indicates a magazine housing, while reference numeral 62 indicates a fastener track through which the individual fasteners run therethrough while they remain within the magazine portion 16.
  • a feeder carriage 64 is used to feed an individual fastener from the magazine into the drive mechanism area, and a back plate 66 is used to carry an individual fastener while it is being driven.
  • the feeder carriage 64 positions a fastener to a position within the guide body that is coincident with the path of the driver member 90, so that when the driver 90 moves through a driving stroke, its driving end will basically intercept the fastener and carry that fastener to the exit end of the tool 10, essentially at the bottom portion 30 of the tool's exit area.
  • the first embodiment fastener driving tool 10 also includes a motor 40 which acts as a prime mover for the tool, and which has an output that drives a gearbox 42.
  • An output shaft 44 of the gearbox drives a lifter drive shaft 102 (see FIG. 2 ).
  • a solenoid 46 is depicted on FIG. 1 , and further details of its operation are discussed below.
  • a battery 48 is attached near the rear of the handle portion 12, and this battery provides electrical power for the motor 40 as well as for a control system.
  • a printed circuit board that contains a controller is generally designated by the reference numeral 50, and is placed within the handle portion 12 in this embodiment.
  • a trigger switch 52 is activated by a trigger actuator 54.
  • the handle portion 12 is designed for gripping by a human hand, and the trigger actuator 54 is designed for linear actuation by a person's finger while gripping the handle portion 12.
  • Trigger switch 52 provides an input to the control system 50. There are also other input devices for the controller, however those input devices are not seen in FIG. 1 .
  • the controller will typically include a microprocessor or a microcomputer device that acts as a processing circuit. At least one memory circuit will also typically be part of the controller, including Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM) devices. To store user-inputted information (if applicable for a particular tool model), a non-volatile memory device would typically be included, such as EEPROM, NVRAM, or a Flash memory device.
  • RAM Random Access Memory
  • ROM Read Only Memory
  • a working cylinder subassembly is designated by the reference numeral 71, and this is included as part of the fastener driver portion 14.
  • the working cylinder 71 includes a cylinder wall 70, and within this cylinder wall 70 is a piston 80, a movable piston stop 82, and a stationary piston stop 84 (see FIG. 3 ).
  • Part of the piston mechanism of this embodiment includes a piston seal 86, a piston guide ring 88, and a piston scraper 89 (see FIG. 10 ).
  • the cylinder wall 70 Surrounding, in the illustrated embodiment, the cylinder wall 70 is a main storage chamber 74 (also sometimes referred to herein as a "pressure vessel storage space") and an outer pressure vessel wall 78 (which corresponds to the "front" cover 24 of FIG. 1 , along the left portion of this view).
  • a top cap 72 At the top (as seen on FIG. 2 ) of the fastener driver portion 14 is a top cap 72 for the cylinder mechanism.
  • driver 90 Also within the fastener driver portion 14 are mechanisms that will actually drive a fastener into a solid object.
  • the driver 90 is also sometimes referred to herein as a “driver member” and the rotary-to-lifter 100 is also sometimes referred to herein as a "lifter member,” or simply as a “lifter.”
  • Driver 90 is rather elongated, and as an individual element can best be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 . There are multiple “teeth" 92 that are positioned along the driver.
  • these teeth 92 are spaced-apart not only in a transverse direction from the elongated centerline of driver 90, but they are also spaced-apart from one another along the outer longitudinal edges of the driver 90.
  • the positions of teeth 92 are clearly illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 . It will be understood that the precise positions for the teeth 92 could be different from those illustrated for the driver 90 without departing from the principles of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 There is a cylinder base 96 that mainly separates the gas pressure portions of the fastener driver portion 14 from the mechanical portions of that driver portion 14.
  • the venting of air from the cylinder venting chamber 94 passes through the cylinder base 96, as seen at a vent 150 (see FIG. 3 ).
  • the mechanical portions of FIG. 2 begin with a rotary-to-linear lifter 100 which was briefly mentioned above, along with a lifter drive shaft 102.
  • Drive shaft 102 protrudes through the center portions of the fastener driver portion 14 and through the center of the lifter 100, and this shaft is used to rotate the lifter, as desired by the control system.
  • Lifter 100 is not designed with an entirely circular outer perimeter, but instead is arcuate and portions of its perimeter exhibit an eccentric shape of a cam (see FIG. 12 ).
  • a portion of the lifter's outer perimeter is mainly circular for about half of a circle (designated by the reference numeral 116), but the other half of the lifter's outer perimeter is more eccentric, which provides an elliptical surface that is designated by the reference numeral 110.
  • the rotary-to-linear lifter 100 also includes three cylindrical protrusions (or "extensions”) that will also be referred to herein as "pins.”
  • the first such pin (“pin 1") is designated 104
  • the second pin (“pin 2") is designated 106
  • the third pin (“pin 3”) is designated 108.
  • pin 4 a fourth cylindrical pin that protrudes from the opposite side of the lifter 100, which fourth pin is designated 114, and which can be viewed on several of the other figures, namely FIGS. 2-8 .
  • FIGS. 2-8 also depict a "back" side of the first three pins 104, 106, and 108, in which these views essentially show a "boss portion" of those pins.
  • These boss portions of the pins 104, 106, 108 are not entirely necessary for the proper functioning of the rotary-to-linear lifter 100, however, the boss portions are illustrated in the figures of this patent document for ease of description. (In other words, the surface of the lifter 100 could be perfectly smooth at those locations rather than exhibiting a "boss.") It should be understood that the "working side" of these three pins 104, 106, and 108 is on the opposite side of the lifter 100 in the views of FIGS.
  • pins 104, 106, 108, and 114 are illustrated as having circular cross-sectional shapes, which is desirable for this embodiment, although other cross-sectional shapes could instead be used without departing from the principles of the present invention, particularly for the fourth pin 114.
  • the latch 120 that was briefly noted above is depicted on FIG. 2 , and has a latch shaft 122 protruding therethrough, and this shaft rotates the latch 120 as determined by the controller.
  • Latch 120 includes a latch "catching surface" at 124, and this will be more fully explained below.
  • FIG. 2 there is an internal cover 112 that is a portion of the back plate 66, and hides some of the other mechanical components that will be visible in other views.
  • the piston 80 is not quite at its uppermost or top-most position, and a gas pressure chamber 76 can be seen above the top-most area of the piston, near the piston seal 86.
  • the gas pressure chamber 76 and the main storage chamber (or storage space) 74 are in fluidic communication with one another.
  • the portion to the interior of the cylinder wall 70 forms a displacement volume that is created by the stroke of the piston 80.
  • the gas pressure chamber 76 is not a fixed volume, but this chamber will vary in volume as the piston 80 moves up and down (as seen in FIG. 2 ). This type of mechanical arrangement is often referred to as a "displacement volume,” and that terminology will mainly be used herein for this non-fixed volume 76.
  • the main storage chamber 74 preferably comprises a fixed volume, which typically would make it less expensive to manufacture; however, it is not an absolute requirement that the main storage chamber actually be of a fixed volume. It would be possible to allow a portion of this chamber 74 to deform in size and/or shape so that the size of its volume would actually change, during operation of the present invention, without departing from the principles of the present invention.
  • the main storage chamber 74 substantially surrounds the working cylinder 71. Moreover, the main storage chamber 74 is annular in shape, and it is basically co-axial with the cylinder 71. This is a preferred configuration of the illustrated first embodiment, but it will be understood that alternative physical arrangements could be designed without departing from the principles of the present invention.
  • the piston is depicted at its bottom-most travel position, and in this configuration, the displacement volume 76 and the main storage chamber 74 are at their largest combined volumes, while the cylinder venting chamber 94 is at its minimum volume.
  • This bottom position is also sometimes referred to herein as the "driven position.”
  • the movable piston stop 82 is now in contact with the stationary piston stop 84, which is why the cylinder venting chamber 94 is at its minimum (or zero) volume.
  • the driver 90 is also at its bottom-most travel position, and its lower-most tip can be seen extending out the exit port at the bottom of the guide body 36.
  • the rotary-to-linear lifter 100 and the latch 120 are in their respective positions at the end of a firing (driving) stroke, and the latch 120 has its latching surface 124 in a location that will not interfere with the teeth 92 of the driver 90. This is necessary so that the driver 90 can make a linear stroke from its top-most position to its bottom-most position. However, the latch 120 will later be slightly rotated by the latch shaft 122 (which is spring-loaded) so that its catching surface 124 will be able to interfere with the teeth 92.
  • the fastener driving tool 10 has been used to drive a fastener, and the tool now must cause the driver 90 to be "lifted” back to its top-most position for a new firing (driving) stroke. This is accomplished by rotating the lifter 100, which is actuated by the motor 40, through its gearbox 42, etc.
  • the "next" lifter pin (which will be the pin 104) will then come along and again make contact with one of the teeth 92 along the left-hand side (as seen in FIG. 3 ) of the driver 90, thereby continuing to lift the driver toward the top (as seen in FIG. 3 ) of the cylinder 71.
  • the rotary-to-linear lifter 100 makes two complete rotations to lift the driver 90 from its bottom-most position to its top-most position. (The upper position is also sometimes referred to herein as the "ready position.")
  • the parts will be configured as illustrated in FIG. 4 .
  • the piston 80 is once again near the top of the cylinder 71, and the combined volumes of the main storage chamber 74 and displacement volume 76 have now been reduced to a smaller volume, which means their gases are under a greater pressure, since the gas that was above the piston and in chamber 74 was compressed during the lift of the driver.
  • the actual volume of the main storage chamber 74 does not change in the illustrated embodiment.
  • the latch 120 was “engaged” with the teeth 92, however, the latch has a smooth surface in one direction that allows the teeth 92 to push the latch out of the way during the upward lift of the driver. This is much like a ratchet-type action, remembering that the latch is spring-loaded so as to act in this manner.
  • the control system turns off the solenoid 46, which will then allow the latch 120 to engage the right-hand teeth (in these views) of the lifter 100.
  • the solenoid can also be turned off earlier during the lift, if desired.
  • the solenoid 46 acts as a latch actuator.
  • the driver/piston subassembly will drift downward (in these views) a small distance until the tooth 126 contacts the latch surface 124. This is the position illustrated in FIG. 4 of these components, and this configuration is considered to be the "rest" position of the tool.
  • the gas pressure in the combined main storage chamber 74 and displacement volume 76 is at its maximum, the latch 120 prevents the driver from being moved further downward, so the piston is essentially locked in this position until something else occurs.
  • the pressure vessel may be pressurized at about 100 PSIG to 120 PSIG.
  • the next action in the illustrated first embodiment is to cause the motor 40 to become energized once again.
  • the safety contact element 32 has an upper arm 134 (see FIG.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 show details of the same structure depicted in FIG. 5 at different perspective angles.
  • the latch 120 is in its disengaged position so that its catching surface 124 will not interfere with any of the teeth 92 along the right-hand side (as seen in FIG. 5 ) of the driver 90; also the eccentric cam surface 110 is now facing the teeth 92 along the left-hand side (as seen in FIG. 5 ) of the driver 90, and none of the three "working" pins of the lifter will interfere with those left-hand teeth 92.
  • the driver tooth Once the driver tooth "drops off" the last lifting pin 108, the driver 90 is quickly thrust downward in a linear stroke, due to the high gas pressure within the main storage chamber 74 and displacement volume 76.
  • the driver 90 will pick up a fastener that is waiting at the feeder carriage 64, and drive that fastener along the back plate 66 to the exit area at the bottom (at the area 30 on FIG. 1 ). After this action has occurred, the driver 90 will be situated at its lower-most position, as viewed in FIG. 3 .
  • the pressure of the gas in the combined main storage chamber 74 and displacement volume 76 is sufficiently high to quickly force the driver 90 downward, and such pneumatic means is typically much faster than a nail driving gun that uses exclusively mechanical means (such as a spring) for driving a fastener. This is due to the "gas spring" effect caused by the high gas pressure within the main storage chamber 74 and displacement volume 76 that, once the driver is released, can quickly and easily move the driver 90 in a downward stroke.
  • the piston 80 and the movable piston stop 82 are forcing air (or possibly some other gas) out of the cylinder venting chamber 94 that is below the piston.
  • This volume of air is moved through a vent to atmosphere 150, and it is desired that this be a low resistance passageway, so as to not further impede the movement of the piston and driver during their downward stroke.
  • the gas above the piston is not vented to atmosphere, but instead remains within the displacement volume 76, which is also in fluidic communication with the main storage chamber 74.
  • One aspect of the present invention is to provide a rather large storage space volume to hold the pressurized gas that is also used to drive the piston downward during a driving stroke of the driver 90.
  • the volume of the main storage chamber be larger than the total volume of the cylinder working spaces (i.e., the displacement volume) by a volumetric ratio of at least 2.0:1, and more preferably at least 3.0:1. This will allow for a powerful stroke, and a quick stroke.
  • the illustrated first embodiment of the present invention allows for both a quick firing (or driving) stroke time and also a fairly quick "lifting" time to bring the driver back to its upper position, ready for the next firing (driving) stroke. Both of these mechanical actions can sequentially occur in less than 340 milliseconds (combined time), and allow a user to quickly place fasteners into a surface.
  • the human user can hold the trigger in the engaged position and quickly place a fastener at a desired location merely by pressing the nose (or "bottom") of the tool against the working surface to actuate the fastener driver and place the fastener.
  • the user can quickly remove the fastener driver tool from that surface, and move it to a second position along the work surface, while still depressing the trigger the entire time, and then press the nose (or bottom) of the tool against the working surface at a different position, and it will drive a fastener at that "different" position.
  • This is referred to as a "bottom fire” capability, and when using the illustrated embodiment it can occur virtually as fast as a human can place the tool against a surface, then pick up the tool and accurately place it against the surface at a different position, and thereby repeat these steps as often as desired until emptying the magazine of fasteners.
  • This type of mode of operation will be discussed in greater detail below in connection with the logic flow chart starting at FIG. 13 , with respect to the control system of the fastener driving tool 10.
  • FIG. 8 another side sectional view is provided that shows some of the elements beneath the latch and other portions of the first embodiment fastener driving tool 10.
  • the limit switch 130 detects movements of the fourth pin 114 of the rotary-to-linear lifter 100 (as noted above).
  • the limit switch 132 detects movement of the upper arm 134, which is a portion of the safety contact element 32 that is pushed rearward (or “up” in these views) with respect to the overall tool 10 when the nose of the tool is pressed against a working surface.
  • These limit switches provide electrical input signals to the controller, which is discussed below in greater detail. It will be understood that other types of sensors could be used instead of electromechanical limit switches, such as optoelectrical sensors, or magnetic sensors, including a Hall-effect switch, or even a metal-sensing proximity switch.
  • a return spring 136 which causes the safety contact element 32 to be pushed back downward (in this view) once the user releases the nose of the tool 10 from the working surface.
  • a depth of drive adjustment at 138.
  • the solenoid 140 has a plunger 142 that will move linearly either in or out from the main coil body of the solenoid 140.
  • the solenoid When the solenoid is energized, it pulls the plunger 142 in toward the solenoid body 140, which rotates a solenoid arm 146 (part of the solenoid's "linkage"), which in turn rotates the latch shaft 122 that also rotates the latch 120 a small arcuate distance. This causes the latch 120 to disengage from the teeth 92 of the driver 90.
  • the plunger when the solenoid 140 becomes de-energized, the plunger will be pushed out by the plunger spring 144, which will rotate the solenoid arm 146 a short distance, and that in turn rotates the latch shaft 122 and the latch 120. This will tend to cause the latch to engage the teeth 92 along the right-hand side (as seen in FIG. 5 ) of the driver 90.
  • this since this is a spring action, the teeth 92 can slide against the surface of the latch 120 and move the latch out of the way if the teeth are attempting to move upward along with the driver 90.
  • the spring action of the solenoid plunger spring will be strong enough to push the latch 120 into its engaged position, and any teeth 92 attempting to move downward will be caught by the catching surface 124 of the latch 120.
  • This "catching" action of the latch 120 has more than one benefit.
  • the latch holds the tooth 126 (which is the “bottom tooth” along the right-hand side of the driver as seen in FIG. 5 ) in place when the piston has been lifted to its top or “firing" position.
  • the driver cannot be fired until the latch 120 is moved out of the way, as discussed above.
  • the latch 120 will also prevent a misfire from occurring at an inconvenient time.
  • the latch 120 will have its solenoid 140 become de-energized once the jam occurs (because solenoid 140 will de-energize after a "timeout" interval occurs), and therefore the latch 120 will be engaged and the catching surface 124 will be in a position to interfere with the downward movement of the driver teeth 92.
  • a "trigger fire” mode is where the user first presses the tool nose against a working surface, and then depresses the trigger actuator 54. It is the trigger being depressed that causes the drive stroke to occur in this situation.
  • the trigger is actuated first, and then the user presses the nose of the tool against a work surface, and it is the work surface contact that causes the drive stroke to occur.
  • the user can continue to hold the trigger down while pressing against and releasing the tool from the work surface multiple times, and obtain quick multiple firing strokes (or driving strokes), thereby quickly dispensing multiple fasteners into the working surface at various locations.
  • an exemplary fastener driving tool can be made with a main storage chamber volume of about twelve cubic inches and a cylinder displacement volume of about 3.75 cubic inches. This would provide a volumetric ratio of the main storage chamber versus the displacement volume of about 3.2:1. As discussed above, it is desirable for the volumetric ratio of the main storage chamber's volume to the displacement volume to be at least 2.0:1, and it could be much higher if desired by the fastener driving tool's designer.
  • the working pressure in the system could be around 120 PSIG, and should probably be at least 100 PSIG for a quick-firing tool.
  • working pressure the inventors are referring to the pressure in the displacement volume 76 (and main storage chamber 74) at the time the piston 80 is at its "ready" position, which is when it is at (or proximal to) its uppermost travel position as illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 .
  • air can be used for the main storage chamber and the displacement volume, if desired. While air will work fine in many or most applications, alternative gases could be used as the "charge gas," such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen gas. Moreover, the use of nitrogen gas can have other benefits during the manufacturing stage, such as for curing certain adhesives, for example.
  • the fastener driving tool 10 there is no fill valve on the fastener driving tool 10 at the storage tank (main storage chamber) 74.
  • the design of the preferred mode of the present invention is such that the charge gas should not significantly leak from the tool, and therefore a fill valve would not be required.
  • a variable stroke is possible by causing the rotary-to-linear lifter 100 to be rotated a multiple number of times to create a shorter or longer firing (driving) stroke, if desired.
  • the lifter 100 makes a complete rotation two times to lift the piston from its lower-most position to its top-most position. This number of rotations of the lifter could be increased to three times or four times if desired, or even could be decreased to a single turn for a shorter stroke tool, if desired.
  • the outer pressure vessel wall 78 could also be made of a composite material, if desired.
  • the use of a carbon fiber composite, for example, would decrease weight, but would maintain the desired strength.
  • FIG. 10 some of the details of a first piston arrangement are illustrated in cross-section for one of the embodiments of the present invention.
  • the piston is depicted at the reference numeral 80.
  • a piston seal 86 is near the upper end (in this view) of the piston 80, and a piston scraper 89 is near the lower end (in this view) of the piston.
  • a piston guide ring 88 is located at a central region of the piston, and essentially surrounds that middle portion of the piston.
  • the second embodiment piston is designated by the reference number 180.
  • the seals 182 and 184 are designed to hold the oil 188 within the annular space 186 indefinitely, or at least to lose the oil only at a very slow rate.
  • FIG. 12 the opposite side (compared to FIGS. 3-5 ) of the rotary-to-linear lifter 100 is illustrated.
  • the three pins 104, 106, and 108 are directly seen in this view, and this is the "working side" of those three pins, which make contact with the teeth 92 of the driver 90.
  • FIG. 12 shows the positional relationship of these three pins with respect to the lifter 100 and the center position for the lifter drive shaft 102, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 shows the semi-circular outer shape of a first part of the perimeter of the lifter at 116, and the more elliptical outer shape of a second part of the perimeter of the lifter at 110, as discussed above.
  • the outer shape of the perimeter portions (at 110 and 116) define an outer perimeter of a surface from which these pins 104, 106, and 108 protrude.
  • a logic flow chart is provided to show some of the important steps used by a system controller for the fastener driving tool 10 of the illustrated embodiment for the present invention.
  • a step 202 loads registers with predetermined values, and a step 204 loads special function registers with predetermined values.
  • a step 206 now "checks" the RAM (Random Access Memory) to be sure it is functioning properly, and then a step 208 clears the RAM.
  • a step 210 now loads unused RAM with predetermined values, based on the software coding for the system controller (typically in firmware or hard-coded).
  • a step 212 now determines the stability of the system electrical power supply. And then a step 214 initializes the interrupts that will be used for the controller. The controller is now ready to enter into an operational routine.
  • a decision step 240 now determines whether or not a "mode” selector switch has been activated. (Note, this mode switch would typically be only an optional feature for a driving tool 10, and many tools will not include this mode switch at all.) If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a decision step 222. On the other hand, if the mode selector switch was turned “on,” then the logic flow is directed to a step 242 in which the tool enters a "restrictive fire” routine. The logic flow is directed now to a decision step 244 that determines if the trigger has been pulled. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a decision step 224.
  • the logic flow is directed to a step 246 that will further direct the logic flow to the "STOP 1" function (or routine) at step 380 on FIG. 15 .
  • the trigger in the "restrictive fire” mode of operation, the trigger cannot be pulled first; instead the nose of the fastener driving tool must be pushed against the solid surface before the trigger is pulled.
  • step 222 determines whether or not the trigger has been pulled. If the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 230 in which the logic flow enters a "TRIGGER" routine.
  • a step 231 turns on a "work light” which is a small electric lamp (e.g., an LED) that illuminates the workpiece where the fastener is to be driven.
  • a decision step 232 now determines whether or not a predetermined timeout has occurred, and if the answer is YES, a step 234 directs the logic flow to a "STOP 1" routine, that is illustrated on FIG. 15 at a step 380.
  • STOP 1 a predetermined amount of time will pass (i.e., the "timeout” interval), and once that has occurred, the system will be basically deactivated in the STOP 1 mode. This is not a permanent stoppage of the functioning of the tool, but is only temporary.
  • the "timeouts" are interrupt driven, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • a decision step 236 determines if the safety has been actuated. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed back to the FIRST 1 routine 220. On the other hand, if the safety has been actuated at step 236, then the logic flow is directed to a step 238 that will send the logic flow to a "DRIVE" routine, which is on FIG. 14 at a step 260. This will be discussed below in greater detail.
  • step 224 the logic now determines whether or not the safety has been actuated. This step determines whether or not the safety contact element 32 has been pressed against a solid object to an extent that actuates the sensor (e.g., limit switch 132), which means that the tool is now pressed against a surface where the user intends to place a fastener. If the answer is NO, the logic flow is directed back to the mode switch query at decision step 240. However, if the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 250 in which the controller enters a "SAFETY" routine.
  • a step 251 turns on the "work light," which is the same lamp/LED that was discussed above in reference to step 231.
  • a decision step 252 now determines whether or not a timeout has occurred, and if the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 254 that directs the logic flow to the "STOP 1" function at step 380 on FIG. 15 . This temporarily stops the tool from operating. On the other hand, if the timeout has not yet occurred, the logic flow is directed to a decision step 256 that determines whether the trigger has been pulled. If the answer is NO, the logic flow is directed back to the decision step 224. On the other hand, if the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 258 that causes the tool to enter the "DRIVE" mode of operation at step 260 on FIG. 14 .
  • the tool 10 can be actuated with either one of the two important triggering steps occurring first: i.e., the trigger could be pulled before the safety is actuated, or vice versa.
  • step 238 the logic flow from FIG. 13 is directed to the "DRIVE" routine 260 from two other steps on FIG. 13 : these are step 238 and step 258.
  • a switch debounce step 262 is executed to determine whether or not one or both of the triggering elements was somehow only actuated intermittently. If so, the system designers have determined that the tool should not operate until it is more certain that the input switches have actually been actuated. To do this, the logic flow is directed to a decision step 264 to determine if the safety is still actuated. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a step 266 that sends the logic flow back to the SAFETY routine at step 250.
  • step 264 the logic flow is directed to a decision step 270 to determine if the trigger is still being pulled. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a step 272 that sends the logic flow back to the TRIGGER routine at step 230.
  • a step 280 clears the operational timers, and the logic flow is then directed to a decision step 282 that determines if the software code flow is within certain parameters. This is a fault-checking mode of the software itself, and if the system does not determine a satisfactory result, then the logic flow is directed to a step 284 that sends the logic flow to a "STOP" routine at a step 370 on FIG. 15 . This will ultimately turn the tool off and require a safety inspection of the tool, or at least have the tool reset. However, the tool does not need to be completely disabled, and after the safety inspection and tool reset procedure, the tool will be ready to use again without being sent to a service center.
  • the code flow check step determines if a correct number resides in a register or memory location; this number is the result of being incremented at predetermined executable steps of the software for the system controller.
  • step 282 If the software code flow check is within acceptable parameters at decision step 282, then the logic flow is directed to a step 290 that turns on the motor, and then a step 292 that turns on the solenoid.
  • a step 294 now starts the solenoid timer and a step 296 now starts the motor run timer.
  • these timers will be periodically checked by the system controller to make sure that certain things have occurred while the solenoid is on and while the motor is running Otherwise, after a predetermined maximum amount of time, the motor will be turned off and the solenoid will be turned off due to these timers actually timing out, which should not occur if the tool is being used in a normal operation, and if the tool is functioning normally.
  • a "dwell timer” is used to allow the tool to begin its normal operation before any further conditions are checked. This is accomplished by a decision step 298 on FIG. 14 , which causes the logic flow to essentially wait a short amount of time before continuing to the next logic steps.
  • the logic flow is directed to a decision step 300 that determines if the solenoid "on time" has been exceeded. If the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 302 that turns off the solenoid. This situation does not necessarily mean the tool is being misused or is not functioning properly, and therefore the logic flow does not travel to a "stop step” from the step 302. Instead, the logic flow is directed to a decision step 304, discussed below.
  • Step 304 determines if the cam limit switch has received a first signal. This is the limit switch 130 that detects the presence or absence of the fourth pin 114 of the lifter. If the tool of the illustrated embodiment is being used, the lifter 110 will make two complete rotations when lifting the driver and piston from their bottom-most positions to their top-most positions. Therefore, the cam limit switch 130 will receive two different signals during this lift. Step 304 determines if the first signal has occurred. If not, then a decision step 310 determines whether the motor timeout has occurred. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed back to decision step 300.
  • step 312 that sends the logic flow to a "STOP" routine at step 370. This would likely indicate that there is a problem with the tool, or a problem with the way the user is attempting to operate the tool.
  • step 306 that turns off the solenoid. This will allow the latch 120 to engage the teeth 92 of the driver 90, in case there has been some type of jam, or other type of unusual operation while the driver and piston are being lifted. It also allows the latch 120 eventually to properly engage the bottom-most tooth 126 of the driver, which is the normal operation once the driver and piston have been raised to their top-most (or firing) position.
  • the logic flow is now directed to a decision step 320 that determines whether a second signal has been received from the cam limit switch. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a decision step 322 that determines whether or not the motor run timer has timed out. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed back to decision step 320. On the other hand, if the motor timer has timed out, the logic flow is directed to a step 324 that directs the logic flow to the "STOP" routine at 370, and indicates that there is some type of problem.
  • decision step 320 determines that the second signal from the cam has been received, then the logic flow is directed to a step 330 that turns off the motor, then to a step 332 that starts a "reset” timeout referred to as "all switches on.” In this mode, it is either assumed that both the actuation (input) devices are still actuated, or at least that the controller needs to make an examination of those input devices to see what the proper status of the tool should be. Accordingly, the logic flow is directed to a decision step 340 that determines if the safety is still actuated. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a step 342 that then sends the logic flow to the "FIRST 1" routine at step 220 on FIG. 13 .
  • the logic flow is directed to a decision step 350 that determines if the trigger is still pulled. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a step 352 that also directs the logic flow to the "FIRST 1" step at 220 on FIG. 13 . Finally, if the trigger is still pulled, then a decision step 360 determines whether or not a "reset” timeout has occurred, and if the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 362 that sends the logic flow to the "STOP 1" routine at step 380 on FIG. 15 . If the reset timeout has not yet occurred at step 360, then the logic flow is directed back to the decision step 340 and the inspection of all of the switches will again be performed.
  • the logic flow is continued on FIG. 15 , in which there are two different types of stop routines.
  • the routine called "STOP" at step 370 will first turn off the motor at a step 372, turn off the solenoid at a step 374, and turn off the work light at a step 376.
  • the STOP routine will then clear the timers at a step 378.
  • the logic flow then becomes a "DO-Loop," and continues back to the STOP routine at step 370. This is a fault mode, and the tool must be inspected. As a minimum, it needs to be reset to terminate the DO-Loop processing of the software, which means that the battery must he disconnected from the tool. If the user has been using the tool properly, this may be an indication that there is some operational problem with the tool itself, or that a fastener perhaps has jammed somewhere in the tool and the operator did not notice that fact.
  • the other type of STOP routine is the "STOP 1" routine at step 380. Once that occurs, a step 382 turns off the motor, turn off the solenoid at a step 384, and turn off the work light at a step 386. The STOP 1 routine will then clear the timers at a step 388, and a decision step 390 determines whether or not the trigger is still pulled. If the answer is YES, then the logic flow is directed back to the STOP 1 routine at step 380. If the trigger is not pulled at step 390, the logic flow is then directed to a decision step 392 that determines if the safety is still actuated. If YES, the logic flow is directed back to the STOP 1 routine at step 380.
  • step 398 that sends the logic flow to the "FIRST 1" routine at step 220 on FIG. 13 .
  • the tool has been successfully used, and is ready for the next firing (driving) actuation.
  • Tool 401 is mainly designed to linearly drive fasteners such as nails and staples.
  • Tool 401 includes a handle portion 403, a fastener driver portion 405, a fastener magazine portion 407, and a fastener exit portion 409.
  • a “right” outer cover or “housing” of the driver portion is indicated at 411.
  • a “top” cover is indicated at 412, while a “front” outer cover of the driver portion is indicated at 413.
  • a “rear” cover for the handle portion is indicated at 415 (which is also the battery pack cover), while a “rear” cover of the magazine portion is indicated at 416.
  • the area of the second embodiment tool 401 in which a fastener is released is indicated approximately by the reference numeral 417, which is the "bottom” of the fastener exit portion of tool 401.
  • a safety contact element 418 extends beyond the bottom 417 of the fastener exit, and this extension of the safety contact element is depicted at 419, which is the bottom or "front" portion of the safety contact element.
  • Other elements that are depicted in FIG. 16 include an upper guide body 421 and a front cover 423; the upper guide body generally is in mechanical communication with the magazine portion 407.
  • Reference numeral 445 indicates a magazine housing, while reference numeral 447 indicates a fastener track through which the individual fasteners run while they remain within the magazine portion 407.
  • a feeder carriage 448 (see FIG. 18 ) is used to feed an individual fastener from the magazine into the drive mechanism area, and a back plate 449 is used to carry an individual fastener while it is being driven.
  • the feeder carriage 448 positions a fastener to a position within the upper guide body 421 that is coincident with the path of the driver member 490 (see FIG. 20 ), so that when the driver 490 moves through a driving stroke, its driving end will basically intercept the fastener and carry that fastener to the exit end of the tool 401, essentially at the bottom portion 417 of the tool's exit area.
  • the second embodiment fastener driving tool 401 also includes a motor 427 (see FIG. 17 ) which acts as a prime mover for the tool, and which has an output that drives a gearbox 428 (see FIG. 17 ).
  • An output shaft 429 (see FIG. 17 ) of the gearbox drives a lifter drive shaft 402 (see FIG. 27 ).
  • a solenoid 431 (see FIG. 17 ) is included in tool 401, and further details of its operation are discussed below.
  • a battery 433 is attached near the rear of the handle position 403, and this battery provides electrical power for the motor 427 as well as for a control system.
  • a printed circuit board that contains a controller is generally designated by the reference numeral 435, and is placed within the handle portion 403 in this embodiment.
  • a trigger switch 437 (see FIG. 17 ) is activated by a trigger actuator 439.
  • the handle portion 403 is designed for gripping by a human hand
  • the trigger actuator 439 is designed for linear actuation by a person's finger while gripping the handle portion 403.
  • Trigger switch 437 provides an input to the control system 435.
  • a three-position selector switch acting as a "mode” control switch, is mounted on tool 401 at 441.
  • This switch 441 allows the user (the tool's operator) to select an operating "Mode A” or an operating “Mode B”, or to turn the tool OFF.
  • LEDs light-emitting diodes
  • the controller at 435 will typically include a microprocessor or a microcomputer device that acts as a processing circuit. At least one memory circuit will also typically be part of the controller, including Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM) devices. To store user-inputted information (if applicable for a particular tool model), a non-volatile memory device would typically be included, such as EEPROM, NVRAM, or a Flash memory device.
  • RAM Random Access Memory
  • ROM Read Only Memory
  • a working cylinder subassembly is designated by the reference numeral 453, and this is included as part of the fastener driver portion 405.
  • the working cylinder 453 includes a cylinder wall 451, and within this cylinder wall 451 is a movable piston 458. Further details of this piston arrangement are illustrated in FIG. 28 , described below.
  • a main storage chamber 454 also sometimes referred to herein as a "pressure vessel storage space”
  • an outer pressure vessel wall 456 which corresponds to the "front" cover 413 of FIG. 16 , along the right portion of this view.
  • At the top (as seen in these views) of the fastener driver portion 405 is an upper end portion at 455 for the cylinder mechanism.
  • fastener driver portion 405 Also within the fastener driver portion 405 are mechanisms that will actually drive a fastener into a solid object.
  • This includes a driver 490, a cylinder "venting chamber” 492 beneath the piston 458 (which would typically always be at atmospheric pressure), a driver track (not seen in this view; however, see FIG. 21 at 494), a rotary-to-linear lifter 400, and a latch 420.
  • the driver 490 is also sometimes referred to herein as a "driver member” and the rotary-to-lifter 400 is also sometimes referred to herein as a "lifter member,” or simply as a “lifter.”
  • Driver 490 is rather elongated, and as an individual element can best be seen in FIGS. 23 and 24 .
  • teeth 491 there are multiple “teeth” 491 that are positioned along the driver.
  • these teeth 491 are spaced-apart not only in a transverse direction from the elongated centerline of driver 490, but they are also spaced-apart from one another along the outer longitudinal edges of the driver 490.
  • the positions of teeth 491 are clearly illustrated in FIG. 24 .
  • the precise positions for the teeth 92 and 491 could be different from those illustrated for the driver 90 or 490, without departing from the principles of the present invention. It will also be understood that the precise shapes of teeth 92 and 491 could be different from those illustrated for the driver 90 or 490, without departing from the principles of the present invention. It will be further understood that the longitudinal edges of the driver elements 90 and 490 do not necessarily have to be linear or straight, although a straight edge is probably the simplest to construct and use. Moreover, the longitudinal edges of the driver elements 90 and 490 do not necessarily need to be parallel to one another, or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the driver itself, although again, such parallel construction is probably the simplest to build and use.
  • FIG. 20 There is a cylinder base 493 that mainly separates the gas pressure portions of the fastener driver portion 405 from the mechanical portions of that driver portion 405.
  • the venting of air from the cylinder venting chamber 492 passes through the cylinder base 493, as seen at a vent 450 on FIG. 20 .
  • the mechanical portions of FIG. 20 begin with a rotary-to-linear lifter 400 which was briefly mentioned above, along with a lifter drive shaft 402.
  • Drive shaft 402 protrudes through the center portions of the fastener driver portion 405 and through the center of the lifter 400, and this shaft is used to rotate the lifter, as desired by the control system. (See also FIG. 27 .)
  • Lifter 400 can be designed with an entirely circular outer perimeter, or it can have a different shape.
  • lifter 100 was arcuate and portions of its perimeter exhibited an eccentric shape of a cam (see FIG. 2 ).
  • a portion of the lifter's outer perimeter was mainly circular for about half of a circle (designated by the reference numeral 116), but the other half of the lifter's outer perimeter was more eccentric, which provided an elliptical surface (designated by the reference numeral 110).
  • the outer shape of lifter 400 is still illustrated as half-circular and half-eccentric.
  • the lifter's exact outer shape is not important, so long as it provides a base to hold in place certain protrusions (or “pins”) that will make physical contact with teeth on the driver 490, but in a manner that creates a discontinuous contact surface with those teeth. This will be discussed below in greater detail.
  • the rotary-to-linear lifter 400 includes three cylindrical protrusions (or “extensions”) that will also be referred to herein as "pins.”
  • the first such pin (“pin 1") is designated 404, the second pin (“pin 2”) is designated 406, while the third pin (“pin 3") is designated 408. (See, FIG. 29 .)
  • These pins are mainly not visible on FIG. 19 , since they face away from the viewer of this FIG. 19 .
  • FIGS. 19 and 20 do not show a "boss portion" of the three pins 404, 406, and 408, (as did pins 104, 106, and 108 on FIG. 3 ), since such boss portions of the pins 404, 406, 408 are not entirely necessary for the proper functioning of the rotary-to-linear lifter 400. Instead, the surface of the lifter 400 may be perfectly smooth (e.g., flat) at those locations rather than exhibiting a "boss.”
  • pins 404, 406, an 408 are illustrated as having circular cross-sectional shapes, which is desirable for this embodiment, although other cross-sectional shapes could instead be used without departing from the principles of the present invention.
  • the pins could have a smooth arcuate outer surface along the portions that will come into contact with the protrusions or "teeth" of the lifter 490, and the remaining portion of the outer surface of the pins could exhibit a sharp angular cut-off edge, that for example, would have the appearance of a slice of pie.
  • This alternative shape can apply both to the pins 104, 106, and 108 of the first embodiment and to the pins 404, 406, and 408 of the second embodiment, without departing from the principles of the present invention.
  • the pins do not necessarily need to protrude from the lifter surface at right angles.
  • pin 4 a fourth cylindrical pin that protruded from the opposite side of the lifter 100, designated pin 114.
  • pin 114 there was a fourth cylindrical pin at all.
  • a small permanent magnet at 414 is placed in the lifter 400.
  • a Hall effect sensor (described below) is used to sense the movements of this magnet 414, and thus the movements of lifter 400.
  • the latch 420 that was briefly noted above is depicted on FIG. 20 , and has a latch shaft 422 protruding therethrough, and this shaft rotates the latch 420 as determined by the controller.
  • Latch 420 includes a latch "catching surface" at 424 (see FIG. 22 ), and this will be more fully explained below.
  • the gas pressure chamber 457 and the main storage chamber (or storage space) 454 are in fluidic communication with one another.
  • the portion to the interior of the cylinder wall 451 forms a displacement volume that is created by the stroke of the piston 458.
  • the gas pressure chamber 457 is not a fixed volume, but this chamber will vary in volume as the piston 458 moves up and down (as seen in FIGS. 19 and 20 ).
  • this type of mechanical arrangement is often referred to as a "displacement volume,” and that terminology will mainly be used herein for this non-fixed volume 457.
  • the piston 458 is piston is depicted at or near its bottom-most travel position (in this view), and a gas pressure chamber 457 can be seen above the top-most area of the piston.
  • the gas pressure chamber 457 and the main storage chamber (or storage space) 454 are in fluidic communication with one another.
  • the portion to the interior of the cylinder wall 451 forms a displacement volume that is created by the stroke of the piston 458.
  • the gas pressure chamber 457 is not a fixed volume, but this chamber will vary in volume as the piston 458 moves up and down. This type of mechanical arrangement is often referred to as a "displacement volume,” and that terminology will mainly be used herein for this non-fixed volume 457.
  • the main storage chamber 454 preferably comprises a fixed volume, which typically would make it less expensive to manufacture; however, it is not an absolute requirement that the main storage chamber actually be of a fixed volume. It would be possible to allow a portion of this chamber 454 to deform in size and/or shape so that the size of its volume would actually change, during operation of the present invention, without departing from the principles of the present invention.
  • the main storage chamber 454 substantially surrounds the working cylinder 453. Moreover, the main storage chamber 454 is annular in shape, and it is basically co-axial with the cylinder 453. This is a preferred configuration of the illustrated second embodiment, but it will be understood that alternative physical arrangements could be designed without departing from the principles of the present invention.
  • FIG. 34 illustrates a fastener driver mechanism 714 in which a main storage chamber 774 is not co-axial with a working cylinder 771 of the fastener driving tool, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 710.
  • storage chamber 774 does not substantially surround the working cylinder 771, and instead is located off to one side of this working cylinder.
  • This arrangement allows for various physical component arrangements of the tool 710, and offers a different possible center of mass, which might be advantageous for some special applications.
  • the main storage chamber 774 has an outer pressure vessel wall 778, and the working cylinder 771 has a cylinder wall 770. These two spaces 774 and 771 are pneumatically in communication with one another by way of a passageway 752, near the top (in this view) of the working cylinder, at 772.
  • a movable piston 780 (not visible in this view), which can be constructed in a similar manner to the movable piston 458 illustrated in FIG. 28 , described above.
  • a driver member 790 (not visible in this view), which can be constructed in a similar manner to the driver 490 illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24 , and described above.
  • a cylinder base 796 separates the gas pressure portions of the fastener driver portion 714 from the mechanical portions of that fastener driver portion 714.
  • the tool 710 can include a handle portion (not shown), a fastener magazine portion 407 (not shown), and a fastener exit portion 718.
  • the remaining parts of tool 710 can be very similar, or identical, to other parts of the second embodiment tool 401, illustrated in FIGS. 16-29 .
  • the piston 458 is depicted near or at its bottom-most travel position, and in this configuration, the displacement volume 457 and the main storage chamber 454 are at their largest combined volumes, while the cylinder venting chamber 492 is at its minimum volume.
  • This bottom position is also sometimes referred to herein as the "driven position.”
  • movable piston 458 is now in contact with the stationary piston stop 463, which is why the cylinder venting chamber 492 is at its minimum (or zero) volume.
  • the driver 490 is also at its bottom-most travel position, and its lower-most tip can be seen extending out the exit port at the bottom of a lower guide body 425.
  • the rotary-to-linear lifter 400 and the latch 420 are in their respective positions at the end of a firing (driving) stroke, and the latch 420 has its latching surface 424 in a location that will not interfere with the teeth 491 of the driver 490. This is necessary so that the driver 490 can make a driving stroke from its top-most position to its bottom-most position (see also, FIG. 22 ). However, the latch 420 will later be slightly rotated by the latch shaft 422 (which is spring-loaded) so that its catching surface 424 will be able to interfere with the teeth 491.
  • the fastener driving tool 401 has been used to drive a fastener, and the tool now must cause the driver 490 to be "lifted” back to its top-most position for a new firing (driving) stroke. This is accomplished by rotating the lifter 400, which is actuated by the motor 427, through its gearbox 428, etc.
  • the rotary-to-linear lifter 400 makes two complete rotations to lift the driver 490 from its bottom-most position to its top-most position. (The upper position is also sometimes referred to herein as the "ready position.")
  • the parts will be configured as illustrated in FIG. 21 .
  • the piston 458 will again be near the top of the cylinder 453, and the combined volumes of the main storage chamber 454 and displacement volume 457 have now been reduced to a smaller volume, which means their gases are under a greater pressure, since the gas that was above the piston and in chamber 454 was compressed during the lift of the driver.
  • the actual volume of the main storage chamber 454 does not change in the illustrated embodiment.
  • the latch 420 was “engaged” with the teeth 491, however, the latch has a smooth surface in one direction that allows the teeth 491 to push the latch out of the way during the upward lift of the driver. This is much like a ratchet-type action, remembering that the latch is spring-loaded (and thus has a mechanical bias) so as to act in this manner.
  • the "last" tooth along the right-hand side (as best seen in FIG. 23 ) of the driver 490 is engaged with the latch catching surface 424, and so latch 420 now prevents the driver from being moved downward (as seen in this view).
  • the third pin 408 is still in contact with the lower-most tooth 491 along the left-hand side of the driver 490, at this point in the rotational travel of the rotary-to-linear lifter 400.
  • the control system turns off the solenoid 431, which will then allow the latch 420 to engage the right-hand teeth (in these views) of the lifter 400.
  • the solenoid can also be turned off earlier during the lift, if desired.
  • the solenoid 431 acts as a latch actuator.
  • the latch surface 424 is not in contact with the driver teeth 491 when the driver 490 has been moved to its "ready" position.
  • the gearbox 428 has an attribute by which it essentially is self-locking from its output side (i.e., from its output shaft 429), and this prevents the lifter 400 from allowing the driver 490 to move "backward," which is the "down" direction in FIG. 21 . Therefore, the driver/piston subassembly will not drift downward a small distance, and thus, the driver teeth 491 do not come into contact with the latch, even in view of the gas pressure above piston 458 (in the space 457).
  • the latch 420 may be positioned such that it would interfere with the driver teeth 491 (i.e., in an "interfering position") as a safety feature (i.e., in which the latch surface 424 would "catch” the teeth 491 of the driver 490, if the driver somehow would move downward).
  • the gearbox/lifter combination does not allow the "last tooth” 426 to contact that latch 420 at this point in the tool's operation.
  • the pressure vessel may be pressurized at about 130 PSIG to 140 PSIG, just before a driving stroke.
  • the gearbox can be of yet another alternative construction.
  • a "regular” gearbox could be used if provided with a "one-way” feature, such as an adjacent one-way clutch (or a one-way clutch constructed therewithin). In this manner, the driver 490 would still be prevented from moving down (in FIG. 21 ) and contacting the latch surface 424, just before a driving stroke.
  • the next action in the illustrated second embodiment is to cause the motor 427 to become energized once again, so that the lifter 400 rotates further in its original direction.
  • These two actions are: pressing the nose 419 of the safety contact element 418 against a solid surface, and depressing the trigger actuator 439.
  • the trigger actuator will cause the trigger switch 437 to change state, which is one condition that will start sending current to the motor 427.
  • the safety contact element 418 has an upper arm 434 (see FIG. 25 ) that will be moved as the nose 419 is pushed into the tool 401, and this upper arm 434 will actuate another sensor which, in the illustrated embodiment, is a small limit switch 432 (see FIG. 25 ).
  • FIGS. 23 and 24 show details of the same structure depicted in FIG. 22 at different perspective angles.
  • the latch 420 is in its disengaged position so that its catching surface 424 will not interfere with any of the teeth 491 along the right-hand side (as seen in FIG. 20 ) of the driver 490; and none of the three "working" pins of the lifter 400 will interfere with those left-hand teeth 491.
  • the driver tooth 491 "drops off” the last lifting pin 408, the driver 490 is quickly thrust downward in a driving stroke, due to the high gas pressure within the main storage chamber 454 and displacement volume 457.
  • the driver 490 will pick up a fastener that is waiting at the feeder carriage 448, and drive that fastener along the back plate 449 to the exit area at the bottom (at the area 417 on FIG. 16 ). After this action has occurred, the driver 490 will be situated at its lower-most position, as viewed in FIG. 20 .
  • the pressure of the gas in the combined main storage chamber 454 and displacement volume 457 is sufficiently high to quickly force the driver 490 downward, and such pneumatic means is typically much faster than a nail driving gun that uses exclusively mechanical means (such as a spring) for driving a fastener. This is due to the "gas spring" effect caused by the high gas pressure within the main storage chamber 454 and displacement volume 457 that, once the driver is released, can quickly and easily move the driver 490 in a downward stroke.
  • the piston 458 and the movable piston stop 459 are forcing air (or possibly some other gas) out of the cylinder venting chamber 492 that is below the piston.
  • This volume of air is moved through a vent to atmosphere 450, and it is desired that this be a low resistance passageway, so as to not further impede the movement of the piston and driver during their downward stroke.
  • the gas above the piston is not vented to atmosphere, but instead remains within the displacement volume 457, which is also in fluidic communication with the main storage chamber 454.
  • One aspect of the present invention is to provide a rather large storage space or volume to hold the pressurized gas that is also used to drive the piston downward during a driving stroke of the driver 490.
  • the volume of the main storage chamber be larger than the total volume of the cylinder working spaces (i.e., the displacement volume) by a volumetric ratio of at least 2.0:1, and more preferably at least 3.0:1. This will allow for a powerful stroke, and a quick stroke; moreover, it provides for an efficient operating air spring.
  • the illustrated second embodiment of the present invention allows for both a quick firing (or driving) stroke time and also a fairly quick "lifting" time to bring the driver back to its upper position, ready for the next firing (driving) stroke. Both of these mechanical actions can sequentially occur in less than 340 milliseconds (combined time), and allow a user to quickly place fasteners into a surface.
  • the human user can hold the trigger in the engaged position and quickly place a fastener at a desired location merely by pressing the nose (or "bottom") of the tool against the working surface to actuate the fastener driver and place the fastener.
  • the user can quickly remove the fastener driver tool from that surface, and move it to a second position along the work surface, while still depressing the trigger the entire time, and then press the nose (or bottom) of the tool against the working surface at a different position, and it will drive a fastener at that "different" position.
  • This is referred to as a "bottom fire” capability, and when using the illustrated embodiment it can occur virtually as fast as a human can place the tool against a surface, then pick up the tool and accurately place it against the surface at a different position, and thereby repeat these steps as often as desired until emptying the magazine of fasteners.
  • This type of mode of operation will be discussed in greater detail below in connection with the logic flow chart starting at FIG. 35 , with respect to the control system of the fastener driving tool 401.
  • the limit switch 430 is a Hall-effect sensor that detects movements of the magnet 414 of the rotary-to-linear lifter 400 (as noted above).
  • the limit switch 432 is a small electromechanical limit switch that detects movement of the upper arm 434, which is a portion of the safety contact element 418 that is pushed rearward (or “up” in these views) with respect to the overall tool 401 when the nose of the tool is pressed against a working surface.
  • These limit switches provide electrical input signals to the controller, which is discussed below in greater detail. It will be understood that other types of sensors could be used instead of electromechanical limit switches or Hall-effect switches, such as optoelectronic sensors, or magnetic sensors, or even a metal-sensing proximity switch.
  • a return spring 436 which causes the safety contact element 418 to be pushed back downward (in this view) once the user releases the nose of the tool 401 from the working surface.
  • a depth of drive adjustment at 438 is also viewed on FIG. 25.
  • the driver 490 may be driven toward the exit end by a type of driver actuation device other than a gas spring.
  • the driver member 490 could have a top circular area 497 that is forced downward (in this view) by a mechanical spring 496, which could be a fast-acting coil spring, for example, thereby also causing driver 490 to move downward (in this view).
  • a mechanical spring 496 could be a fast-acting coil spring, for example, thereby also causing driver 490 to move downward (in this view).
  • an alternative driver actuation device could use a different type of mechanical force, for example, applied by compressed foam (in the area at 498). In such alternative embodiments, there would be no need for a cylinder at all, and instead the spring 496 (or other device at 498) would merely need a mechanical guide to keep it moving in a correct motion.
  • FIG. 26 Further alternative ways to force the driver 490 of FIG. 26 to move in a driving stroke toward the exit end are the use of a fast-acting motor, or the use of a compressed gas valve (releasing compressed air into a cylinder against, for example, a piston 458 instead of the circular area 497), or perhaps a pressurized liquid valve (releasing pressurized hydraulic fluid into a cylinder against the piston 458, for example). If a piston 458 is used with compressed gas or pressurized liquid, then a cylinder (not shown) would also be added to the unit of FIG. 26 , instead of merely using a mechanical guide.
  • a fast-acting motor or the use of a compressed gas valve (releasing compressed air into a cylinder against, for example, a piston 458 instead of the circular area 497), or perhaps a pressurized liquid valve (releasing pressurized hydraulic fluid into a cylinder against the piston 458, for example). If a piston 458 is used with compressed gas or pressurized liquid, then a cylinder (not shown) would
  • the solenoid 440 has a plunger 442 that will move linearly either in or out from the main coil body of the solenoid 440.
  • the solenoid When the solenoid is energized, it pulls the plunger 442 in toward the solenoid body 440, which rotates a solenoid arm 446 (part of the solenoid's "linkage"), which in turn rotates the latch shaft 422 that also rotates the latch 420 a small arcuate distance. This causes the latch 420 to disengage from an interfering position with the driver 490.
  • the plunger when the solenoid 440 becomes de-energized, the plunger will be pushed out by the plunger spring 444, which will rotate the solenoid arm 446 a short distance, and that in turn rotates the latch shaft 422 and the latch 420. This will tend to cause the latch to engage the teeth 491 along the right-hand side (as seen in FIG. 20 ) of the driver 490.
  • this since this is a spring action, the teeth 491 can slide against the surface of the latch 420 and move the latch out of the way if the teeth are attempting to move upward along with the driver 490.
  • the spring action of the solenoid plunger spring will be strong enough to push the latch 420 into its engaged position, and any teeth 491 attempting to move downward will be caught by the catching surface 424 of the latch 420.
  • This "catching" action of the latch 420 has more than one benefit.
  • the latch In the first place, the latch remains in its interfering position as the piston 458 is lifted to its top or “firing" position. The driver 490 cannot be fired until the latch 420 is moved out of the way, as discussed above.
  • the latch 420 On the other hand, if there is some type of jam or an improper use of the tool by a user such that the driver 490 does not totally complete its travel during a firing (driving) stroke, the latch 420 will also prevent a misfire from occurring at an inconvenient time.
  • the latch 420 will have its solenoid 440 become de-energized once the jam occurs (because solenoid 440 will de-energize after a "timeout" interval occurs), and therefore the latch 420 will be engaged and the catching surface 424 will be in a position to interfere with the downward movement of the driver teeth 491.
  • the latch 120 or 420 could be controlled by a device other than a solenoid, without departing from the principles of the present invention.
  • the solenoid 140 or 440 could be replaced by motor, or some type of air or hydraulic valve, if desired.
  • the latch action could be linear rather than rotational (pivotable), if desired.
  • a "trigger fire” mode is where the user first presses the tool nose against a working surface, and then depresses the trigger actuator 439. It is the trigger being depressed that causes the driving stroke to occur in this situation.
  • the trigger is actuated first, and then the user presses the nose of the tool against a work surface, and it is the work surface contact that causes the driving stroke to occur.
  • the user can continue to hold the trigger down while pressing against and releasing the tool from the work surface multiple times, and obtain quick multiple firing strokes (or driving strokes), thereby quickly dispensing multiple fasteners into the working surface at various locations.
  • an exemplary fastener driving tool can be made with a main storage chamber volume of about 11.25 cubic inches and a cylinder displacement volume of about 3.75 cubic inches. This would provide a volumetric ratio of the main storage chamber versus the displacement volume of about 3.0:1. As discussed above, it is desirable for the volumetric ratio of the main storage chamber's volume to the displacement volume to be at least 2.0:1, and it could be much higher if desired by the fastener driving tool's designer.
  • the working pressure in the system could be around 120 PSIG, and should probably be at least 100 PSIG for a quick-firing tool.
  • working pressure the inventors are referring to the pressure in the displacement volume 457 (and main storage chamber 454) at the time the piston 458 is at its "ready” position, which is when it is at (or proximal to) its uppermost travel position.
  • air can be used for the main storage chamber and the displacement volume, if desired. While air will work fine in many or most applications, alternative gases could be used as the "charge gas," such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen gas. Moreover, the use of nitrogen gas can have other benefits during the manufacturing stage, such as for curing certain adhesives, for example.
  • a variable stroke is possible by causing the rotary-to-linear lifter 400 to be rotated a multiple number of times to create a shorter or longer firing (driving) stroke, if desired.
  • the lifter 400 makes a complete rotation two times to lift the piston from its lower-most position to its top-most position. This number of rotations of the lifter could be increased to three times or four times if desired, or even could be decreased to a single turn for a shorter stroke tool, if desired.
  • Another possible variation is to use a composite sleeve for the internal cylinder wall 451, which would make contact with the seals of the piston 458.
  • the outer pressure vessel wall 456 could also be made of a composite material, if desired. The use of a carbon fiber composite, for example, would decrease weight, but would maintain the desired strength.
  • FIG. 28 some of the details of the piston arrangement are illustrated in cross-section for the second embodiment 401 of the present invention.
  • This piston is designated by the reference number 458.
  • Part of the piston mechanism of this embodiment includes a piston scraper 489.
  • the seals 482 and 484 are designed to hold the oil 488 within the annular space 186 indefinitely, or at least to lose the oil only at a very slow rate.
  • the seals have a "slick" coating material to provide a long operational life.
  • an exemplary material for this coating is XYLAN TM , which is a TEFLON TM material that includes molybdenum powder.
  • the driver element 90 of tool 10 and the driver element 490 of tool 401 both retract into their respective working cylinder areas 71 and 453.
  • fastener magazine portion 16 of tool 10 and the fastener magazine portion 407 of the tool 401 are essentially optional features.
  • the fastener driving tools 10 and 401 could be constructed to act as "single-shot” devices, and no magazine would be provided for such a tool.
  • the tools 10 and 401 could be provided with a standard detachable magazine, hut the tools themselves could also be constructed to work in a "single-shot mode" such that a single fastener is placed in the tool 10 or 401, near its front end or tip (e.g., near 30) and that single fastener is then driven by tool 10 or 401.
  • the magazine 16 or 407 could be dismounted from the tool 10 or 401 during the single-shot procedure; later, the magazine 16 or 407 could be re-mounted to the tool 10 or 401, and the collated fasteners in the magazine could then be driven by the tool, as desired by the user.
  • Lifter 460 has only a single protrusion (or "pin") at 462, and the lifter 460 rotates about a pivot axis at 461.
  • the outer perimeter shape of lifter 461 is mainly arcuate at 464, and only comprises a small sector of a full circle.
  • lifter 460 can achieve the goals of the present invention, in that its protrusion 462 will provide a discontinuous contact surface with the "teeth" of a driver element, such as the driver 90 or driver 490.
  • Lifter 460 having only a single "pin” would need to rotate more quickly that the other lifters 100 and 400, described above and in the drawings showing the first and second embodiments of a tool 10 or 401 (assuming that it was attempting to lift a driver having the same size and shape, and "teeth" spacings, as those previously described drivers).
  • Lifter 465 has two protrusions (or “pins”) at 467 and 468, and the lifter 465 rotates about a pivot axis at 466.
  • the outer perimeter shape of lifter 465 has a very irregular geometric shape at 469.
  • lifter 465 can achieve the goals of the present invention, in that its protrusions 467 and 468 will provide a discontinuous contact surface with the "teeth" of a driver element, such as the driver 90 or driver 490.
  • Lifter 465 having only two "pins” would need to rotate more quickly that the other lifters 100 and 400, described above and in the drawings showing the first and second embodiments of a tool 10 or 401 (assuming that it was attempting to lift a driver having the same size and shape, and "teeth" spacings, as those previously described drivers).
  • Lifter 470 has three protrusions (or “pins") at 472, 473, and 474, and the lifter 470 rotates about a pivot axis at 471.
  • the outer perimeter shape of lifter 471 has a very regular geometric shape at 475, which is that of a circle.
  • lifter 470 can achieve the goals of the present invention, in that its protrusions 472, 473, and 474 will provide a discontinuous contact surface with the "teeth" of a driver element, such as the driver 90 or driver 490.
  • Lifter 470 having three "pins” would need to rotate generally at the same speed as the other lifters 100 and 400, described above and in the drawings showing the first and second embodiments of a tool 10 or 401 (assuming that it was attempting to lift a driver having the same size and shape, and "teeth" spacings, as those previously described drivers).
  • Lifter 480 has two protrusions (or “pins") at 482 and 483, and the lifter 480 rotates about a pivot axis at 481.
  • the outer perimeter shape of lifter 481 has a very regular geometric shape at 484, which is that of a square.
  • lifter 480 can achieve the goals of the present invention, in that its protrusions 482 and 483 will provide a discontinuous contact surface with the "teeth" of a driver element, such as the driver 90 or driver 490.
  • Lifter 480 having only two "pins” would need to rotate more quickly that the other lifters 100 and 400, described above and in the drawings showing the first and second embodiments of a tool 10 or 401 (assuming that it was attempting to lift a driver having the same size and shape, and "teeth" spacings, as those previously described drivers).
  • a logic flow chart is provided to show some of the important steps used by a system controller for the fastener driving tool 401 of the second illustrated embodiment for the present invention.
  • a step 502 loads registers with predetermined values, and a step 504 loads special function registers with predetermined values.
  • a step 506 now "checks" the RAM (Random Access Memory) to be sure it is functioning properly, and then a step 508 clears the RAM.
  • a step 510 now loads unused RAM with predetermined values, based on the software coding for the system controller (typically in firmware or hard-coded).
  • a step 512 now determines the stability of the system electrical power supply. Then a step 514 causes an electrical output to blink one or more LEDs (light-emitting diodes) 443 on tool 510, so the user is made aware that the tool 510 has entered its "startup" mode of operation. Step 514 also initializes the interrupts that will be used for the controller, and the controller is now ready to enter into an operational routine.
  • LEDs light-emitting diodes
  • a decision step 516 now determines if the safety has been actuated (i.e., whether the safety contact element 418 has been pressed against a solid object to an extent that actuates the sensor, e.g., limit switch 432). Step 516 also determines if the trigger 439 has been pulled. If the answer is YES for either of these questions, then the logic flow is directed to a step 520. If the answer is NO for both of these questions, then the logic flow is directed to another decision step 518.
  • Step 518 determines whether or not the LEDs have flashed a predetermined maximum number of times. If the answer is YES, then the logic flow is directed to step 520. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow loops back to step 514.
  • a decision step 540 now determines whether or not the current operating mode is the "RESTRICTIVE" mode. This determination involves inspecting the current state of the selector switch 441 which, as noted above, has three positions: “Off", "Mode A”, or “Mode B".
  • This three-position switch 441 is part of an exemplary arrangement of the second embodiment of the fastener driving tool 401, and in this description of the second tool embodiment, Mode A and Mode B are also referred to as a "Restrictive Mode,” and a "Contact Actuation Mode.”
  • the logic flow is directed to a decision step 522.
  • the logic flow is directed to a step 542 in which the tool enters a "restrictive fire" routine.
  • the logic flow is directed now to a decision step 544 that determines if the trigger has been pulled. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a decision step 541.
  • the logic flow is directed to a step 546 that will further direct the logic flow to the "STOP 1" function (or routine) at a step 680 on FIG. 37 .
  • this particular "firing mode” is a predetermined sequential mode of operation (and the term “restrictive fire mode” is also referred to herein as the "sequential mode”).
  • the logic flow at decision step 541 determines whether or not the safety has been actuated. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed back to the "restrictive fire" routine, just before step 544. However, if the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 543, in which the controller turns on the "work light,” which is a small electric lamp (e.g., an LED) that illuminates the workpiece where the fastener is to be driven.
  • the work light which is a small electric lamp (e.g., an LED) that illuminates the workpiece where the fastener is to be driven.
  • a decision step 545 now determines whether or not a "sequential mode timeout" has occurred, and if the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 547 that directs the logic flow to the "STOP 1" function at step 680 on FIG. 37 . This temporarily stops the tool from operating. On the other hand, if the timeout has not yet occurred, the logic flow is directed to a decision step 548 that determines whether the trigger has been pulled. If the answer is NO, the logic flow is directed back to the decision step 544. On the other hand, if the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 549 that causes the tool to enter the "DRIVE" mode of operation at step 560 on FIG. 36 .
  • step 522 determines whether or not the trigger has been pulled. If the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 530 in which the logic flow enters a "TRIGGER" routine. A step 531 turns on a "work light,” which is the same lamp/LED that was discussed above in reference to step 543.
  • a decision step 532 now determines whether or not a predetermined "trigger timeout” has occurred, and if the answer is YES, a step 534 directs the logic flow to a "STOP 1" routine, that is illustrated on FIG. 37 at a step 680.
  • a predetermined amount of time will pass (i.e., the "timeout” interval), and once that has occurred, the system will be basically deactivated in the STOP 1 mode. This is not a permanent stoppage of the functioning of the tool, but is only temporary.
  • the "timeouts" are interrupt driven, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • a decision step 536 determines if the safety has been actuated. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed back to the BEGIN routine 520. On the other hand, if the safety has been actuated at step 536, then the logic flow is directed to a step 538 that will send the logic flow to a "DRIVE" routine, which is on FIG. 36 at a step 560. This will be discussed below in greater detail.
  • step 524 the logic now determines whether or not the safety has been actuated. This step determines whether or not the safety contact element 418 has been pressed against a solid object to an extent that actuates the sensor (e.g., limit switch 432), which means that the tool is now pressed against a surface where the user intends to place a fastener. If the answer is NO, the logic flow is directed back to the mode switch query at decision step 540. However, if the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 550 in which the controller enters a "SAFETY" routine.
  • a step 551 turns on the "work light," which is the same lamp/LED that was discussed above in reference to step 531.
  • a decision step 552 now determines whether or not a "safety timeout” has occurred, and if the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 554 that directs the logic flow to the "STOP 1" function at step 680 on FIG. 37 . This temporarily stops the tool from operating. On the other hand, if the timeout has not yet occurred, the logic flow is directed to a decision step 556 that determines whether the trigger has been pulled. If the answer is NO, the logic flow is directed back to the decision step 524. On the other hand, if the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 558 that causes the tool to enter the "DRIVE" mode of operation at step 560 on FIG. 36 .
  • the tool 401 can be actuated with either one of the two important triggering steps occurring first: i.e., the trigger could be pulled before the safety is actuated, or vice versa.
  • step 538 the logic flow from FIG. 35 is directed to the "DRIVE" routine 560 from two other steps on FIG. 35 : these are step 538 and step 558.
  • a switch debounce step 562 is executed to determine whether or not one or both of the triggering elements was somehow only actuated intermittently. If so, the system designers have determined that the tool should not operate until it is more certain that the input switches have actually been actuated. To do this, the logic flow is directed to a decision step 564 to determine if the safety is still actuated. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a step 566 that sends the logic flow back to the SAFETY routine at step 550.
  • step 564 the logic flow is directed to a decision step 570 to determine if the trigger is still being pulled. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a step 572 that sends the logic flow back to the TRIGGER routine at step 530.
  • a step 580 clears the operational timers, and the logic flow is then directed to a decision step 582 that determines if the software code flow is within certain parameters. This is a fault-checking mode of the software itself, and if the system does not determine a satisfactory result, then the logic flow is directed to a step 584 that sends the logic flow to a "STOP" routine at a step 670 on FIG. 37 .
  • the code flow check step determines if a correct number resides in a register or memory location; this number is the result of being incremented at predetermined executable steps of the software for the system controller.
  • step 590 that turns on the motor
  • step 592 that turns on the solenoid
  • step 594 now starts the solenoid timer
  • step 596 now starts the motor run timer.
  • these timers will be periodically checked by the system controller to make sure that certain things have occurred while the solenoid is on and while the motor is running. Otherwise, after a predetermined maximum amount of time, the motor will be turned off and the solenoid will be turned off due to these timers actually timing out, which should not occur if the tool is being used in a normal operation, and if the tool is functioning normally.
  • a "dwell timer” is used to allow the tool to begin its normal operation before any further conditions are checked. This is accomplished by a decision step 598 on FIG. 36 , which causes the logic flow to essentially wait a short amount of time before continuing to the next logic steps.
  • the logic flow is directed to a decision step 600 that determines if the solenoid "on time" has been exceeded. If the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 602 that turns off the solenoid. This situation does not necessarily mean the tool is being misused or is not functioning properly, and therefore the logic flow does not travel to a "stop step” from the step 602. Instead, the logic flow is directed to a decision step 604, discussed below.
  • Step 604 determines if the cam limit switch has received a first signal. This is the Hall effect sensor 430 that detects the presence or absence of the magnet 414 of the lifter. If the tool of the illustrated embodiment is being used, the lifter 410 will make two complete rotations when lifting the driver and piston from their bottom-most positions to their top-most positions. Therefore, the cam limit switch 430 will receive two different signals during this lift. Step 604 determines if the first signal has occurred. If not, then a decision step 610 determines whether the motor timeout has occurred. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed back to decision step 600.
  • step 612 that sends the logic flow to a "STOP" routine at step 670. This would likely indicate that there is a problem with the tool, or a problem with the way the user is attempting to operate the tool.
  • step 606 that turns off the solenoid. This will allow the latch 420 to engage the teeth 491 of the driver 490, in case there has been some type of jam, or other type of unusual operation while the driver and piston are being lifted. It also allows the latch 420 eventually to properly engage the bottom-most tooth 426 of the driver, which is the normal operation once the driver and piston have been raised to their top-most (or firing) position.
  • the logic flow is now directed to a decision step 620 that determines whether a second signal has been received from the cam limit switch. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a decision step 622 that determines whether or not the motor run timer has timed out. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed back to decision step 620. On the other hand, if the motor timer has timed out, the logic flow is directed to a step 624 that directs the logic flow to the "STOP" routine at 670, and indicates that there is some type of problem.
  • decision step 620 determines that the second signal from the cam has been received, then the logic flow is directed to a step 630 that turns off the motor, then to a step 632 that starts a "reset” timeout referred to as "all switches on.” In this mode, it is either assumed that both the actuation (input) devices are still actuated, or at least that the controller needs to make an examination of those input devices to see what the proper status of the tool should be. Accordingly, the logic flow is first directed to a decision step 634, which determines whether the operator mode selector switch 441 is set to the Restrictive Mode, and if not, the logic flow is directed to a decision step 640 (discussed below).
  • step 634 the logic flow is directed to a decision step 635 that determines whether or not the reset timeout has occurred. If the answer is YES, then the logic flow is directed to a step 636, and the tool is then enters the STOP1 routine at step 680 on FIG. 37 . If the answer was NO at step 635, a decision step 637 determines whether or not the safety is still actuated (or "pulled"). If the answer is YES, then the logic flow is directed back to step 635; if the answer is NO, the logic flow is directed to a decision step 638 which determines whether or not the trigger is still being pulled. If the answer is YES, then the logic flow is directed back to step 635; if the answer is NO, the logic flow is directed to a step 639, and the tool then enters the BEGIN routine at step 520 on FIG. 35 .
  • step 634 if the current selector switch mode was not Restrictive, then the logic flow is directed to a decision step 640 that determines if the safety is still actuated. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a step 642 that then sends the logic flow to the "BEGIN" routine at step 520 on FIG. 35 . On the other hand if the safety is still actuated, the logic flow is directed to a decision step 650 that determines if the trigger is still pulled. If the answer is NO, then the logic flow is directed to a step 652 that also directs the logic flow to the "BEGIN" step at 520 on FIG. 35 .
  • a decision step 660 determines whether or not a "reset” timeout has occurred, and if the answer is YES, the logic flow is directed to a step 662 that sends the logic flow to the "STOP 1" routine at step 680 on FIG. 37 . If the reset timeout has not yet occurred at step 660, then the logic flow is directed back to the decision step 640 and the inspection of all of the switches will again be performed.
  • the logic flow is continued on FIG. 37 , in which there are two different types of stop routines.
  • the routine called “STOP" at step 670 will first turn off the motor at a step 672, turn off the solenoid at a step 674, and turn off the work light at a step 676.
  • the STOP routine will then clear the timers at a step 678.
  • the logic flow then becomes a "DO-Loop,” and continues back to the STOP routine at step 670. This is a fault mode, and the tool must be inspected. As a minimum, it needs to be reset to terminate the DO-Loop processing of the software, which means that the battery must be disconnected from the tool. If the user has been using the tool properly, this may be an indication that there is some operational problem with the tool itself, or that a fastener perhaps has jammed somewhere in the tool and the operator did not notice that fact.
  • the other type of STOP routine is the "STOP 1" routine at step 680. Once that occurs, a step 682 turns off the motor, turn off the solenoid at a step 684, and turn off the work light at a step 686. The STOP 1 routine will then clear the timers at a step 688, and a decision step 690 determines whether or not the trigger is still pulled. If the answer is YES, then the logic flow is directed back to the STOP 1 routine at step 680. If the trigger is not pulled at step 690, the logic flow is then directed to a decision step 692 that determines if the safety is still actuated. If YES, the logic flow is directed back to the STOP 1 routine at step 680.
  • step 698 that sends the logic flow to the "BEGIN" routine at step 520 on FIG. 35 .
  • the tool has been successfully used, and is ready for the next firing (driving) actuation.
  • timeouts there are a number of various timeouts that may occur during the operation of the tools built according to the present invention. As of the writing of this patent application, all of the timeout intervals are set for three (3) seconds. However, each of the timeouts is designed so as to be independently settable by the system designer, in case it becomes desirable to alter one or more of the individual timeout intervals (i.e., to a time value other than three seconds). Normally this would be done in software code (stored in the memory circuit), used to instruct the processing circuit in its operations, although hardware timers could instead be used.
  • FIGS. 13-15 and FIGS. 35-37 can be implemented using sequential logic, such as by using microprocessor technology, or using a logic state machine, or perhaps by discrete logic; it even could be implemented using parallel processors.
  • One preferred embodiment may use a microprocessor or microcontroller to execute software instructions that are stored is memory cells within an ASIC.
  • the entire microprocessor or microcontroller, along with RAM and executable ROM, may be contained within a single ASIC, in one mode of the present invention.
  • other types of circuitry could be used to implement these logical operations depicted in the drawings without departing from the principles of the present invention.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Procédé de commande d'un outil d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation, ledit procédé comprenant les étapes suivantes:
    (a) fournir un outil d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation (10, 401), comprenant: (i) un boîtier (24, 411), (ii) un dispositif de commande de système (50, 435), (iii) un mécanisme d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation qui déplace un élément d'enfoncement (90, 490) en direction d'une extrémité de sortie (30, 417) du mécanisme, (iv) un élément de contact de sécurité (32, 418), (v) une gâchette actionnée par l'utilisateur (54, 439), et (vi) un élément de fixation;
    (b) ledit outil d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation comprend en outre: (vii) un moteur principal (40, 427) qui déplace un élément de levage (100, 400) qui éloigne ledit élément d'enfoncement de ladite extrémité de sortie du mécanisme, et (viii) un dispositif de commande de verrou (46, 431) qui déplace un élément de verrou (120, 420) présentant une surface d'accroche (124, 424);
    (c) amorcer un cycle d'enfoncement en pressant ladite extrémité de sortie contre une pièce et en actionnant ladite gâchette, entraînant de ce fait:
    (i) l'activation dudit dispositif de commande de verrou qui déplace ladite surface d'accroche de l'élément de verrou jusqu'à une position qui n'interfère pas avec les déplacements dudit élément d'enfoncement; et
    (ii) ledit mécanisme d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation à forcer l'élément d'enfoncement à se déplacer en direction de ladite extrémité de sortie et à enfoncer ledit élément de fixation dans ladite pièce;
    (d) actionner ledit moteur principal, déplaçant de ce fait ledit élément de levage et entraînant ledit élément de levage à s'éloigner de ladite extrémité de sortie en direction d'une position armée; et
    (e) désactiver ensuite ledit dispositif de commande de verrou, permettant une poussée mécanique (144, 444) dudit élément de verrou pour déplacer la surface d'accroche de l'élément de verrou dans une position qui interfère avec les déplacements dudit élément d'enfoncement,
    caractérisé en ce que:
    (f) ledit mécanisme d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation comprend un cylindre creux (14, 405) comprenant un piston mobile (80, 458) à l'intérieur de celui-ci, ledit piston étant mobile à l'intérieur dudit cylindre, ledit cylindre creux contenant un volume de déplacement (76, 457) créé par une course dudit piston; et
    (g) ledit outil comprend une chambre de stockage principale (74, 454, 774) qui est en communication fluidique avec ledit volume de déplacement du cylindre, dans lequel ladite chambre de stockage principale et ledit volume de déplacement sont initialement chargés avec un gaz sous pression et restent au-dessus de la pression atmosphérique pendant toutes les parties d'un cycle opératoire sans aucun système de réapprovisionnement en gaz embarqué sur ledit outil; et
    (h) pendant ledit cycle d'actionnement, lesdits cylindre et piston agissent comme un ressort à gaz (76, 457) pour déplacer ledit élément d'enfoncement depuis sa position armée en direction de ladite extrémité de sortie, en utilisant ledit gaz sous pression à la fois de ladite chambre de stockage principale et dudit volume de déplacement qui agit sur ledit piston.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre les étapes suivantes:
    (a) interrompre le contact entre ladite extrémité de sortie et ladite pièce, permettant de ce fait audit outil de commencer un nouveau cycle d'enfoncement; ou
    (b) relâcher ladite gâchette, permettant de ce fait audit outil de commencer un nouveau cycle d'enfoncement; ou
    (c) un utilisateur sélectionne ledit mode de fonctionnement de cycle d'enfoncement parmi un "mode de tir bas" (240, 530, 550) et un "mode de tir restrictif" (242, 542);
    dans lequel:
    (i) si ledit mode de tir restrictif est sélectionné, ledit outil agira si ledit élément de contact de sécurité a été actionné avant que ledit actionneur de gâchette ait été actionné; et
    (ii) si ledit mode de tir bas est sélectionné, ledit outil agira si à la fois:
    (A) ledit actionneur de gâchette a été actionné, et
    (B) ledit élément de contact de sécurité a été actionné,
    dans l'une ou l'autre séquence; ou
    (d) désactiver ledit dispositif de commande de verrou après qu'un intervalle de temps prédéterminé (300, 600) se soit écoulé après le commencement d'une course d'enfoncement, permettant de ce fait une poussée mécanique dudit élément de verrou pour déplacer la surface d'accroche de l'élément de verrou dans une position qui interfère avec les déplacements dudit élément d'enfoncement, même si ledit élément d'enfoncement n'a pas atteint une position de course d'enfoncement complète à ladite extrémité de sortie, et permettant de ce fait à un utilisateur de débloquer en toute sécurité une condition de blocage de l'outil; ou
    (e) commander une quantité de déplacement dudit élément de levage de manière à permettre ainsi audit élément d'enfoncement de se déplacer plus loin qu'une position armée possible avant l'amorçage d'un cycle d'enfoncement particulier suivant; ou
    (f) désactiver ledit moteur principal et ledit dispositif de commande de verrou après qu'un intervalle de temps prédéterminé (380, 680) se soit écoulé après le commencement d'une course d'enfoncement, même si ladite gâchette est encore actionnée et que ladite extrémité de sortie de l'outil est encore pressée contre une pièce, plaçant de ce fait ledit outil dans une condition armée pour un cycle d'enfoncement particulier suivant tout en économisant de l'énergie.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel:
    (a) ledit dispositif de commande de verrou comprend un solénoïde (46, 431), et ledit moteur principal comprend un moteur électrique (40, 427); ou
    (b) ledit élément de levage présente une surface de contact discontinue (104, 106, 108, 404, 406, 408, 462, 467, 468, 472, 473, 474, 482, 483) qui, à des endroits prédéterminés le long de ladite surface de contact discontinue, entre en contact avec une pluralité de saillies espacées les unes des autres (92, 491) dudit mécanisme d'enfoncement; et
    comprenant en outre les étapes suivantes:
    (i) sous des premières conditions prédéterminées, déplacer ledit élément de levage dans une première direction, et entraîner ainsi ledit élément de levage à être déplacé à partir de ladite extrémité de sortie en direction de ladite position armée; et
    (ii) sous des deuxièmes conditions prédéterminées, positionner ledit élément de levage à l'aide dudit moteur principal de telle sorte que ladite surface de contact discontinue de l'élément de levage n'interfère pas mécaniquement avec ladite pluralité de saillies espacées les unes des autres de l'élément d'enfoncement pendant une course d'enfoncement, dans lequel ledit élément d'enfoncement se déplace à partir de ladite position armée en direction de ladite extrémité de sortie; ou
    (c) ledit outil comprend un magasin d'éléments de fixation (60, 445) qui contient une pluralité d'éléments de fixation,
    (i) et comprenant en outre l'étape de fourniture en série de ladite pluralité d'éléments de fixation à une position qui est coïncidente au chemin dudit élément d'enfoncement pendant une course d'enfoncement.
  4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre les étapes suivantes:
    (a) sélectionner, par un utilisateur, un mode de fonctionnement dudit cycle d'enfoncement parmi un parmi un "mode de tir bas" (240, 530, 550) et un "mode de tir restrictif" (242, 542);
    dans lequel:
    (i) si ledit mode de tir restrictif est sélectionné, ledit outil agira si ledit élément de contact de sécurité a été actionné avant que ledit actionneur de gâchette ait été actionné; et
    (ii) si ledit mode de tir bas est sélectionné, ledit outil agira si à la fois:
    (A) ledit actionneur de gâchette a été actionné, et
    (B) ledit élément de contact de sécurité a été actionné,
    dans l'une ou l'autre séquence;
    (b) amorcer un cycle d'enfoncement (260, 560) en pressant ladite extrémité de sortie contre une pièce et en actionnant ladite gâchette, entraînant de ce fait ledit mécanisme d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation à forcer l'élément d'enfoncement à se déplacer en direction de ladite extrémité de sortie et à enfoncer un élément de fixation dans ladite pièce; et
    (c) actionner ledit moteur principal (290, 590), déplaçant de ce fait ledit élément de levage et entraînant ledit élément d'enfoncement à s'éloigner de ladite extrémité de sortie en direction d'une position armée.
  5. Procédé selon la revendication 4, comprenant en outre les étapes suivantes:
    (a) interrompre le contact entre ladite extrémité de sortie et ladite pièce, permettant de ce fait audit outil de commencer un nouveau cycle d'enfoncement; ou
    (b) relâcher ladite gâchette, permettant de ce fait audit outil de commencer un nouveau cycle d'enfoncement; ou
    (c) commander une quantité de déplacement dudit élément de levage de manière à permettre ainsi audit élément d'enfoncement de se déplacer plus loin qu'une position armée possible avant l'amorçage d'un cycle d'enfoncement particulier suivant; ou
    (d)
    (i) prévoir un dispositif de commande de verrou (46, 431) qui déplace un élément de verrou (120, 420) présentant une surface d'accroche (124, 424);
    (ii) à l'étape d'amorçage dudit cycle d'enfoncement:
    (A) entraîner ledit dispositif de commande de verrou à s'activer (292, 592), ce qui déplace ladite surface d'accroche de l'élément de verrou jusqu'à une position qui n'interfère pas avec les déplacements dudit élément d'enfoncement; et
    (B) entraîner ledit mécanisme d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation à forcer l'élément d'enfoncement (90, 490) à se déplacer en direction de ladite extrémité de sortie et à enfoncer un élément de fixation dans ladite pièce; et
    (iii) à l'étape de déplacement dudit élément de levage et d'entraînement dudit élément d'enfoncement à s'éloigner de ladite extrémité de sortie en direction d'une position armée:
    (A) désactiver ledit dispositif de commande de verrou (384, 684), permettant une poussée mécanique (144, 444) dudit élément de verrou pour déplacer la surface d'accroche de l'élément de verrou dans une position qui interfère avec les déplacements dudit élément d'enfoncement.
  6. Procédé selon la revendication 4, dans lequel:
    (a) ledit élément de levage présente une surface de contact discontinue (104, 106, 108, 404, 406, 408, 462, 467, 468, 472, 473, 474, 482, 483) qui, à des endroits prédéterminés le long de ladite surface de contact discontinue, entre en contact avec une pluralité de saillies espacées les unes des autres (92, 491) dudit mécanisme d'enfoncement; et
    (i) comprenant en outre les étapes suivantes:
    (ii) sous des premières conditions prédéterminées, déplacer ledit élément de levage dans une première direction, et entraîner ainsi ledit élément de levage à être déplacé à partir de ladite extrémité de sortie en direction de ladite position armée; et
    (iii) sous des deuxièmes conditions prédéterminées, positionner ledit élément de levage à l'aide dudit moteur principal de telle sorte que ladite surface de contact discontinue de l'élément de levage n'interfère pas mécaniquement avec ladite pluralité de saillies espacées les unes des autres de l'élément d'enfoncement pendant une course d'enfoncement, dans lequel ledit élément d'enfoncement se déplace à partir de ladite position armée en direction de ladite extrémité de sortie; ou
    (b) ledit outil comprend un magasin d'éléments de fixation (60, 445) qui contient une pluralité d'éléments de fixation,
    (i) et comprenant en outre l'étape de:
    (ii) fourniture en série de ladite pluralité d'éléments de fixation à une position qui est coïncidente au chemin dudit élément d'enfoncement pendant une course d'enfoncement.
  7. Procédé selon la revendication 5, comprenant en outre les étapes suivantes:
    (a) désactiver ledit dispositif de commande de verrou après qu'un intervalle de temps prédéterminé (300, 600) se soit écoulé après le commencement d'une course d'enfoncement, permettant de ce fait une poussée mécanique (144, 444) dudit élément de verrou pour déplacer la surface d'accroche de l'élément de verrou dans une position qui interfère avec les déplacements dudit élément d'enfoncement, même si ledit élément d'enfoncement n'a pas atteint une position de course d'enfoncement complète à ladite extrémité de sortie, et permettant de ce fait à un utilisateur de débloquer en toute sécurité une condition de blocage de l'outil; ou
    (b) désactiver ledit moteur principal et ledit dispositif de commande de verrou après qu'un intervalle de temps prédéterminé (362, 662) se soit écoulé après le commencement d'une course d'enfoncement, même si ladite gâchette est encore actionnée et que ladite extrémité de sortie de l'outil est encore pressée contre une pièce, plaçant de ce fait ledit outil dans une condition armée pour un cycle d'enfoncement particulier suivant tout en économisant de l'énergie.
  8. Outil d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation, comprenant:
    (a) un boîtier (24, 411) contenant un moteur principal (40, 427), et un dispositif de commande de système;
    (b) un élément de contact de sécurité (32, 418) qui est mobile entre une position actionnée lorsque ledit élément de contact de sécurité est pressé contre une pièce externe, et une position non actionnée lorsque ledit élément de contact de sécurité n'est pas pressé contre ladite pièce externe;
    (c) un actionneur de gâchette (54, 439) qui est actionné par l'utilisateur;
    (d) un capteur de position de déclenchement (52, 437); et
    (e) un capteur de position d'élément de contact de sécurité (132, 432);
    caractérisé par:
    (f) un mécanisme d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation, comprenant:
    (i) un cylindre creux (14, 405) comprenant un piston mobile (80, 458) à l'intérieur de celui-ci, ledit cylindre creux présentant une première extrémité et une deuxième extrémité opposée, ledit cylindre creux contenant un volume de déplacement (76, 457) créé par une course dudit piston, ledit volume de déplacement étant initialement chargé avec un gaz sous pression;
    (ii) un corps de guidage (36, 421) qui est sensiblement adjacent à la deuxième extrémité dudit cylindre, ledit corps de guidage présentant une extrémité de réception, une extrémité de sortie (30, 417) et un passage (98, 494) entre ceux-ci, ladite extrémité de réception étant proche de ladite deuxième extrémité du cylindre, ledit corps de guidage étant configuré pour recevoir un élément de fixation qui doit être enfoncé à partir de ladite extrémité de sortie;
    (iii) un élément d'enfoncement allongé (90, 490) qui est en communication mécanique avec ledit piston, ledit élément d'enfoncement présentant une surface d'enfoncement qui est dimensionnée et configurée de manière à pousser un élément de fixation dans ladite pièce externe, dans lequel ledit passage du corps de guidage permet audit élément d'enfoncement de passer à travers celui-ci en direction de ladite extrémité de sortie pendant une course d'enfoncement, et permet audit élément d'enfoncement de passer à travers celui-ci pour s'éloigner de ladite extrémité de sortie pendant un intervalle de levage;
    (A) ledit élément d'enfoncement présentant un premier bord longitudinal;
    (B) ledit élément d'enfoncement comportant une pluralité de saillies espacées les unes des autres (92, 491) le long dudit premier bord longitudinal; et
    (iv) un élément de levage (100, 400) présentant une forme extérieure qui définit un périmètre de la surface dudit élément de levage;
    (A) ledit élément de levage étant mobile, sur commande dudit dispositif de commande de système, par ledit moteur principal;
    (B) ledit élément de levage présente une surface de contact discontinue (104, 106, 108, 404, 406, 408, 462, 467, 468, 472, 473, 474, 482, 483) qui, à des endroits prédéterminés le long de ladite surface de contact discontinue, entre en contact avec ladite première pluralité de saillies espacées les unes des autres dudit mécanisme d'enfoncement de telle sorte que, sous des premières conditions prédéterminées, ledit élément de levage soit déplacé dans une première direction et entraîne de ce fait ledit élément d'enfoncement à être déplacé à partir de sa position enfoncée en direction de sa position armée; et
    (C) ledit élément de levage peut être positionné par ledit moteur principal, sous des deuxièmes conditions prédéterminées, de telle sorte que ladite surface de contact discontinue de l'élément de levage n'interfère pas mécaniquement avec ladite première pluralité de saillies espacées les unes des autres le long dudit premier bord longitudinal de l'élément d'enfoncement pendant ladite course d'enfoncement, dans lequel ledit élément d'enfoncement se déplace à partir de sa position armée en direction de sa position enfoncée;
    dans lequel lesdits cylindre et piston agissent comme un ressort à gaz, sous lesdites deuxièmes conditions prédéterminées, pour déplacer ledit élément d'enfoncement à partir de sa position armée en direction de sa position enfoncée, en utilisant ledit gaz sous pression qui agit sur ledit piston, alors que ladite surface d'enfoncement dudit élément d'enfoncement entre en contact avec un élément de fixation et déplace l'élément de fixation en direction de ladite extrémité de sortie dudit corps de guidage.
  9. Outil d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation selon la revendication 8, comprenant en outre:
    (a) un commutateur de sélection actionné par l'utilisateur (441) comme entrée dans ledit dispositif de commande de système, ledit dispositif de commande agit alors pour enfoncer ledit élément de fixation dans l'un ou l'autre d'un "mode de tir bas" et un "mode de tir restrictif", dans lequel:
    (i) si ledit mode de tir restrictif (542) est sélectionné, ledit outil agira si ledit élément de contact de sécurité a été actionné avant que ledit actionneur de gâchette ait été actionné; et
    (ii) si ledit mode de tir bas (540, 522) est sélectionné, ledit outil agira si à la fois:
    (A) ledit capteur de position de déclenchement détermine que ledit actionneur de gâchette a été actionné, et
    (B) ledit capteur de position de contact de sécurité détermine que ledit élément de contact de sécurité a été actionné,
    dans l'une ou l'autre séquence; ou
    (b) un capteur de position d'élément de levage (130, 430) qui détermine si ledit élément de levage a sensiblement accompli une rotation jusqu'à une position prédéterminée, et si tel est le cas, ledit dispositif de commande coupe ledit moteur principal qui arrête la rotation dudit élément de levage; ou
    (c)
    (i) un actionneur de verrou (46, 431) qui est excité lorsqu'on le souhaite sous le contrôle dudit dispositif de commande de système;
    (ii) un élément de verrou pivotant (120, 420) qui présente une surface d'accroche (142, 424) et une surface coulissante, ledit élément de verrou étant chargé par ressort; et
    (iii) une deuxième pluralité de saillies espacées les unes des autres le long dudit deuxième bord longitudinal dudit élément d'enfoncement;
    dans lequel:
    (iv) sous des troisièmes conditions prédéterminées, ledit élément de verrou est forcé par ledit actionneur de verrou dans une position de non accroche de telle sorte que sa surface d'accroche n'interfère pas avec ladite deuxième pluralité de saillies espacées les unes des autres le long dudit deuxième bord longitudinal dudit élément d'enfoncement, permettant de ce fait audit élément d'enfoncement de se déplacer dans une première direction à partir de sa position armée jusqu'à sa position enfoncée;
    dans lequel:
    (v) sous des quatrièmes conditions prédéterminées, pendant lesquelles ledit élément d'enfoncement est déplacé dans une deuxième direction à partir de sa position enfoncée jusqu'à sa position armée, ledit actionneur de verrou relâche ledit élément de verrou de telle sorte que l'élément de verrou ne soit pas forcé dans une position de non accroche, ledit élément de verrou étant dirigé de façon pivotante, sous une charge par ressort, en direction d'une position d'accroche, toutefois, ladite surface coulissante de l'élément de verrou permet à ladite deuxième pluralité de saillies espacées les unes des autres de l'élément d'enfoncement de coulisser le long de l'élément de verrou sans être arrêtées aussi longtemps que l'élément d'enfoncement reste en mouvement dans la deuxième direction; et
    dans lequel:
    (vi) sous des cinquièmes conditions prédéterminées, si ledit élément d'enfoncement se déplace dans ladite première direction, et que ledit actionneur de verrou ne force pas ledit élément de verrou dans ladite position de non accroche, alors ledit élément de verrou est libre d'engager sa surface d'accroche contre une parmi ladite deuxième pluralité de de saillies espacées les unes des autres le long dudit deuxième bord longitudinal dudit élément d'enfoncement, empêchant de ce fait ledit élément d'enfoncement d'exécuter tout déplacement supplémentaire dans ladite première direction; ou
    (d) un magasin d'éléments de fixation (60, 445) pour contenir une pluralité d'éléments de fixation, et pour fournir en série ladite pluralité d'éléments de fixation à travers une ouverture du corps de guidage à une position qui est coïncidente avec le chemin dudit élément d'enfoncement pendant ladite course d'enfoncement; ou
    (e) un arbre d'entraînement (102, 402) qui fait tourner ledit élément de levage, sous des premières conditions prédéterminées, dans lequel ledit arbre d'entraînement est en communication mécanique avec ledit élément de levage, et ledit arbre d'entraînement est finalement entraîné par ledit moteur principal; ou
    (f) une chambre de stockage principale (74, 454, 774) qui est en communication fluidique avec ledit volume de déplacement du cylindre, dans lequel ladite chambre de stockage principale et ledit volume de déplacement sont tous les deux initialement chargés avec ledit gaz sous pression.
  10. Outil d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation selon la revendication 8, dans lequel:
    (a) ledit dispositif de commande de système recèle une capacité de correction d'erreur (282, 370, 582, 670); ou
    (b) ledit dispositif de commande de système est capable de récupérer d'une condition de blocage (370, 670) de l'élément d'enfoncement, sans devoir désactiver complètement ledit outil d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation; ou
    (c) ladite surface de contact discontinue de l'élément de levage comprend une pluralité d'extensions (104, 106, 108, 404, 406, 408, 462, 467, 468, 472, 473, 474, 482, 483), qui font saillie à partir de ladite surface; ou
    (d) ledit dispositif de commande de système comprend un circuit de traitement, un circuit de mémoire et un circuit d'entrée/sortie; ou
    (e) ledit dispositif de commande de système comprend un circuit d'entrée/sortie comprenant:
    (i) une première sortie qui envoie un premier signal audit moteur principal qui, si le dispositif de commande de système le souhaite, entraîne ledit élément de levage mobile à tourner, ce qui:
    (A) sous lesdites premières conditions prédéterminées, entraîne ledit élément d'enfoncement à s'éloigner de ladite extrémité de sortie pendant ledit intervalle de levage; et
    (B) sous lesdites deuxièmes conditions prédéterminées, permet audit élément d'enfoncement de se déplacer en direction de ladite extrémité de sortie pendant ladite course d'enfoncement;
    (ii) une deuxième sortie qui envoie un deuxième signal à un actionneur de verrou (46, 431) qui, si le dispositif de commande de système le souhaite, entraîne un élément de verrou poussé mécaniquement (120, 420) à se déplacer de telle sorte qu'une surface d'accroche (124, 442) de l'élément de verrou n'interfère pas avec les déplacements dudit élément de levage;
    (iii) une première entrée qui reçoit un troisième signal en provenance dudit capteur de position de gâchette;
    (iv) une deuxième entrée qui reçoit un quatrième signal en provenance du capteur de position d'élément de contact de sécurité;
    (v) une troisième entrée qui reçoit un cinquième signal en provenance d'un commutateur de sélection de commande de mode actionné par l'utilisateur (441); et
    (vi) une quatrième entrée qui reçoit un sixième signal en provenance d'un capteur de position d'élément de levage (130, 430) qui détecte une position dudit élément de levage mobile; ou
    (f) ledit moteur principal comprend un moteur électrique (40, 427), et ledit actionneur de verrou comprend un solénoïde (46, 431).
  11. Outil d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation selon la revendication 9, dans lequel:
    (a) ledit capteur de position de déclenchement, ledit capteur de position d'élément de sécurité et ledit capteur de position d'élément de levage comprennent au moins un parmi:
    (i) un interrupteur de fin de course électromécanique,
    (ii) un commutateur de proximité de détection d'aimant,
    (iii) un capteur de déplacement de position d'aimant,
    (iv) un commutateur de proximité de détection de métal,
    (v) un capteur de position optique, et
    (vi) un interrupteur de détection inductif; ou
    (b) si ledit élément de verrou empêche ledit élément d'enfoncement d'exécuter tout déplacement supplémentaire dans ladite première direction sous lesdites cinquièmes conditions prédéterminées, ledit dispositif de commande de système détermine que l'élément d'enfoncement se trouve dans une condition de blocage (370, 670), et ne permettra pas audit élément de levage de déplacer ledit élément d'enfoncement plus loin dans la deuxième direction jusqu'à ce que l'outil ait été réinitialisé, de manière à permettre à l'utilisateur de débloquer la condition de blocage.
EP10075317.7A 2007-10-05 2008-10-01 Outil d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation utilisant un ressort à gaz et méthode de control de l'outil Active EP2243600B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US97767807P 2007-10-05 2007-10-05
EP08834872.7A EP2209593B1 (fr) 2007-10-05 2008-10-01 Outil d'entraînement de fixation utilisant une source de gaz

Related Parent Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08834872.7 Division 2008-10-01
EP08834872.7A Division EP2209593B1 (fr) 2007-10-05 2008-10-01 Outil d'entraînement de fixation utilisant une source de gaz
EP08834872.7A Division-Into EP2209593B1 (fr) 2007-10-05 2008-10-01 Outil d'entraînement de fixation utilisant une source de gaz

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2243600A2 EP2243600A2 (fr) 2010-10-27
EP2243600A3 EP2243600A3 (fr) 2014-08-06
EP2243600B1 true EP2243600B1 (fr) 2015-11-25

Family

ID=40522413

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08834872.7A Active EP2209593B1 (fr) 2007-10-05 2008-10-01 Outil d'entraînement de fixation utilisant une source de gaz
EP10075317.7A Active EP2243600B1 (fr) 2007-10-05 2008-10-01 Outil d'enfoncement d'éléments de fixation utilisant un ressort à gaz et méthode de control de l'outil

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08834872.7A Active EP2209593B1 (fr) 2007-10-05 2008-10-01 Outil d'entraînement de fixation utilisant une source de gaz

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (14) US8011547B2 (fr)
EP (2) EP2209593B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2008308801B2 (fr)
NZ (2) NZ584294A (fr)
TW (1) TWI379746B (fr)
WO (1) WO2009046076A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102018117519A1 (de) 2018-07-19 2020-01-23 Prebena Wilfried Bornemann Gmbh & Co. Kg Druckluftbetriebene Austreibvorrichtung
US12564925B2 (en) 2018-06-11 2026-03-03 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Gas spring-powered fastener driver

Families Citing this family (198)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2209593B1 (fr) 2007-10-05 2016-07-20 Senco Brands, Inc Outil d'entraînement de fixation utilisant une source de gaz
JP5146734B2 (ja) * 2008-01-15 2013-02-20 日立工機株式会社 留め具打込機
TW201016408A (en) * 2008-10-22 2010-05-01 Superior Power Tool Co Ltd Gas filling structure of gas nailing gun
US7841499B2 (en) * 2008-11-26 2010-11-30 Superior Power Tool Co., Ltd. Gas can mounting structure for gas-operated nail gun
WO2011010634A1 (fr) * 2009-07-24 2011-01-27 株式会社マキタ Outil de martelage
JPWO2011010511A1 (ja) * 2009-07-24 2012-12-27 トリコード ソリューションズ，インコーポレイティド 打込み工具
US8746526B2 (en) * 2009-09-15 2014-06-10 Robert Bosch Gmbh Fastener driver with blank fire lockout
US8336748B2 (en) * 2009-09-15 2012-12-25 Robert Bosch Gmbh Fastener driver with driver assembly blocking member
CA2790781C (fr) 2010-03-23 2015-01-20 Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. Actionneur a injection hybride pour machine a mouler par injection
KR101109389B1 (ko) * 2010-04-30 2012-01-30 삼성전기주식회사 인쇄회로기판 및 그 제조방법
DE102010030065A1 (de) 2010-06-15 2011-12-15 Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Eintreibvorrichtung
DE102010030077A1 (de) 2010-06-15 2011-12-15 Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Eintreibvorrichtung
DE102010030088A1 (de) 2010-06-15 2011-12-15 Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Eintreibvorrichtung
DE102010030098A1 (de) * 2010-06-15 2011-12-15 Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Eintreibvorrichtung
FR2965741B1 (fr) 2010-10-08 2013-05-31 Prospection & Inventions Appareil de fixation a precompression du gaz d'entrainement et le procede de fixation correspondant
DE102011007703A1 (de) * 2011-04-19 2012-10-25 Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Eintreibgerät
USD694080S1 (en) * 2011-04-21 2013-11-26 Illinois Tool Works Powered hand tool
DE102011076087A1 (de) * 2011-05-19 2012-11-22 Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Eintreibgerät
EP3150335B1 (fr) 2011-06-02 2023-10-11 Black & Decker, Inc. Outil motorisé avec une unité de commande
US9492915B2 (en) 2011-08-31 2016-11-15 Illinois Tool Works Inc. High efficiency engine for combustion nailer
USD680400S1 (en) * 2011-12-20 2013-04-23 Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited Finish stapler nailer
USD678027S1 (en) * 2011-12-20 2013-03-19 Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited Brad nailer
DE102011089720A1 (de) * 2011-12-23 2013-06-27 Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Eintreibvorrichtung
DE102011089725A1 (de) * 2011-12-23 2013-06-27 Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Eintreibvorrichtung
US9346156B1 (en) * 2012-02-21 2016-05-24 Senco Brands, Inc. Skewed fastener track for improved alignment and fastener drivability
JP5800748B2 (ja) 2012-04-09 2015-10-28 株式会社マキタ 打込み工具
JP5800749B2 (ja) 2012-04-09 2015-10-28 株式会社マキタ 打込み工具
JP5758841B2 (ja) 2012-05-08 2015-08-05 株式会社マキタ 打ち込み工具
US9676090B2 (en) 2012-06-21 2017-06-13 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Fastener-driving tool with an electric power generator
US20130341057A1 (en) * 2012-06-21 2013-12-26 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Fastener-driving tool with an electric power generator
US9724812B2 (en) 2012-06-28 2017-08-08 Stanley Fastening Systems, L.P. Cordless carton closing tool and method of replacing a carton closer clinching member
US9550288B2 (en) 2012-10-22 2017-01-24 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Fastener-driving tool including a reversion trigger
JP2014091196A (ja) * 2012-11-05 2014-05-19 Makita Corp 打ち込み工具
US9486907B2 (en) 2013-01-15 2016-11-08 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Reversion trigger for combustion-powered fastener-driving tool
EP2801449A1 (fr) 2013-05-06 2014-11-12 HILTI Aktiengesellschaft Dispositif d'entraînement et procédé d'utilisation d'un dispositif d'enfoncement
DE102013106658A1 (de) 2013-06-25 2015-01-08 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Eintreibwerkzeug zum Eintreiben von Befestigungsmitteln in ein Werkstück
DE102013106657A1 (de) 2013-06-25 2015-01-08 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Eintreibwerkzeug zum Eintreiben von Befestigungsmitteln in ein Werkstück
US9618116B2 (en) * 2013-08-27 2017-04-11 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Ported piston for automatic nailer
US10040183B2 (en) * 2013-10-11 2018-08-07 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Powered nailer with positive piston return
CN103552034B (zh) * 2013-11-07 2016-08-24 罗建男 一种掀盖式射钉枪
EP2881222A1 (fr) * 2013-12-04 2015-06-10 HILTI Aktiengesellschaft Dispositif d'entraînement
JP6100680B2 (ja) 2013-12-11 2017-03-22 株式会社マキタ 打ち込み工具
US9662776B2 (en) 2013-12-17 2017-05-30 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Fastener-driving tool including a reversion trigger with a damper
CA2943806C (fr) 2014-03-27 2022-05-31 Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited Dispositif d'entrainement d'attache motorise et son procede de fonctionnement
AU2015244345B2 (en) * 2014-04-11 2017-06-15 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Fastener-driving tool with an electric power generator
JP6284417B2 (ja) 2014-04-16 2018-02-28 株式会社マキタ 打ち込み工具
WO2015182508A1 (fr) * 2014-05-30 2015-12-03 日立工機株式会社 Machine d'entraînement
TWI607839B (zh) * 2014-06-05 2017-12-11 Basso Ind Corp Portable power tool and impact block resetting device
TWI613049B (zh) * 2014-07-18 2018-02-01 Basso Ind Corp 手提式動力工具的控制方法
EP3000560A1 (fr) * 2014-09-25 2016-03-30 HILTI Aktiengesellschaft Appareil d'enfoncement à ressort à gaz
US9539714B1 (en) * 2014-10-07 2017-01-10 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Fastener driving apparatus
US9636812B2 (en) * 2015-01-23 2017-05-02 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Fastener driving apparatus
CN208289826U (zh) 2015-02-06 2018-12-28 米沃奇电动工具公司 以气弹簧为动力的紧固件驱动器
US20180036870A1 (en) * 2015-02-26 2018-02-08 Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd. Driving machine
FI3888850T3 (fi) * 2015-03-30 2024-09-23 Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools Inc Menetelmä ja nostomekanismi runkonaulaajaa varten
CN113084757B (zh) * 2015-04-30 2025-01-10 工机控股株式会社 打入机
JP6565306B2 (ja) * 2015-04-30 2019-08-28 工機ホールディングス株式会社 打込機
JP2016209941A (ja) * 2015-04-30 2016-12-15 日立工機株式会社 打込機
EP3090836A1 (fr) 2015-05-06 2016-11-09 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Outil pour enfoncer des organes de fixation à dispositif de sécurité amélioré
GB2592820B (en) * 2015-05-27 2022-06-15 Koki Holdings Co Ltd Driving machine
CN107708934B (zh) * 2015-06-10 2022-01-11 工机控股株式会社 打入机
CA2993187C (fr) * 2015-07-23 2023-12-12 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Appareil d'enfoncement de piece de fixation
JP6540372B2 (ja) * 2015-08-24 2019-07-10 マックス株式会社 打込み工具
WO2017056810A1 (fr) * 2015-09-30 2017-04-06 日立工機株式会社 Dispositif d'entraînement
US9962821B2 (en) * 2015-10-07 2018-05-08 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Fastener driving apparatus
JP2016047594A (ja) * 2015-12-04 2016-04-07 日立工機株式会社 打込機
US10751865B2 (en) * 2016-01-08 2020-08-25 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Impacting apparatus
JP2017164860A (ja) * 2016-03-17 2017-09-21 日立工機株式会社 打込機
US20170274513A1 (en) * 2016-03-28 2017-09-28 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Fastener driving apparatus
CN105818099B (zh) * 2016-05-26 2017-11-17 杭州科龙电器工具股份有限公司 使用气弹簧的电动钉枪
JP6794663B2 (ja) * 2016-06-02 2020-12-02 工機ホールディングス株式会社 打込機
CA2969392C (fr) 2016-06-08 2022-11-22 Tti (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited Entraineur d'agrafeuse a ressort entraine par un gaz
US10569403B2 (en) 2016-06-21 2020-02-25 Tti (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited Gas spring fastener driver
US11400574B2 (en) * 2016-06-21 2022-08-02 Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited Gas spring fastener driver
US11325235B2 (en) 2016-06-28 2022-05-10 Black & Decker, Inc. Push-on support member for fastening tools
US11267114B2 (en) 2016-06-29 2022-03-08 Black & Decker, Inc. Single-motion magazine retention for fastening tools
US10987790B2 (en) 2016-06-30 2021-04-27 Black & Decker Inc. Cordless concrete nailer with improved power take-off mechanism
US11400572B2 (en) 2016-06-30 2022-08-02 Black & Decker, Inc. Dry-fire bypass for a fastening tool
JP6690710B2 (ja) * 2016-06-30 2020-04-28 工機ホールディングス株式会社 打込機
US11279013B2 (en) 2016-06-30 2022-03-22 Black & Decker, Inc. Driver rebound plate for a fastening tool
US10654155B2 (en) 2016-06-30 2020-05-19 Black & Decker Inc. Return mechanism for a cordless nailer
TWI781941B (zh) * 2016-07-29 2022-11-01 日商工機控股股份有限公司 釘打機
CN107717875A (zh) * 2016-08-10 2018-02-23 南京德朔实业有限公司 动力工具
TWI751176B (zh) * 2016-08-31 2022-01-01 日商工機控股股份有限公司 打釘機、壓力調節器和打釘單元
JP6790598B2 (ja) * 2016-08-31 2020-11-25 工機ホールディングス株式会社 打込機
JP6795937B2 (ja) * 2016-09-23 2020-12-02 株式会社マキタ 電動工具
CN108068059B (zh) * 2016-11-09 2022-07-08 创科无线普通合伙 气弹簧紧固件驱动器的卡塞释放和升降器机构
CA2985051C (fr) * 2016-11-09 2023-06-27 Tti (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited Mecanisme d'entrainement de ressort a gaz comportant une vanne d'arret
CN108058137B (zh) 2016-11-09 2022-09-09 创科无线普通合伙 用于气弹簧紧固件驱动器的气缸组件
CN206509978U (zh) * 2016-12-08 2017-09-22 创科（澳门离岸商业服务）有限公司 气动工具
FI3558595T3 (fi) * 2016-12-22 2023-12-14 Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools Inc Kiinnittimen käyttötyökalu, jossa on käyttölaitteen paikka-anturit
EP3565689B1 (fr) * 2017-01-09 2024-12-11 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Appareil d'impact
TWI714707B (zh) * 2017-01-18 2021-01-01 鑽全實業股份有限公司 電動釘槍的無阻式回收裝置
US10974378B2 (en) * 2017-02-03 2021-04-13 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Fastener driving apparatus
US10926385B2 (en) 2017-02-24 2021-02-23 Black & Decker, Inc. Contact trip having magnetic filter
WO2018180082A1 (fr) * 2017-03-29 2018-10-04 工機ホールディングス株式会社 Machine d'entraînement
US11491629B2 (en) * 2017-04-26 2022-11-08 Koki Holdings Co., Ltd. Driver, striking mechanism, and moving mechanism
EP3663049B1 (fr) * 2017-07-31 2024-08-07 Koki Holdings Co., Ltd. Machine d'enfoncement
TWI804476B (zh) 2017-11-02 2023-06-11 鑽全實業股份有限公司 氣壓式電動釘槍
TWI744560B (zh) * 2017-11-02 2021-11-01 鑽全實業股份有限公司 氣壓式釘槍及其撞針裝置
US11110577B2 (en) * 2017-11-16 2021-09-07 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Pneumatic fastener driver
US20190224825A1 (en) * 2018-01-24 2019-07-25 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Gas spring and impacting and driving apparatus with gas spring
US11065749B2 (en) 2018-03-26 2021-07-20 Tti (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited Powered fastener driver
WO2019199605A1 (fr) 2018-04-13 2019-10-17 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Mécanisme de poussée destiné à un dispositif d'entraînement d'éléments de fixation motorisé
EP3781357B1 (fr) 2018-04-20 2026-04-22 Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc. Mécanisme de levage amélioré pour cloueuse d'encadrement
US11712791B2 (en) * 2018-04-26 2023-08-01 Koki Holdings Co., Ltd. Driving tool
CN110450108A (zh) * 2018-05-08 2019-11-15 创科（澳门离岸商业服务）有限公司 气动工具
US12427634B2 (en) 2018-06-11 2025-09-30 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Gas spring-powered fastener driver
US11213934B2 (en) * 2018-07-18 2022-01-04 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Impulse driver
CN110757413B (zh) * 2018-07-26 2022-08-26 创科无线普通合伙 气动工具
TW202007497A (zh) * 2018-08-06 2020-02-16 日商工機控股股份有限公司 釘打機
NZ771883A (en) 2018-08-28 2023-04-28 Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools Inc Forced air cooling from piston movements of nailer tool
USD900575S1 (en) 2018-09-26 2020-11-03 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Powered fastener driver
US11413734B2 (en) 2018-10-17 2022-08-16 Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc. Working cylinder for power tool with piston lubricating system
US12194607B2 (en) 2018-10-17 2025-01-14 Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc. Working cylinder for power tool with piston lubricating system
US11358262B2 (en) * 2018-10-24 2022-06-14 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Fastener driving apparatus
EP3870403B1 (fr) 2018-10-25 2024-03-27 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Entraînement d'élément de fixation motorisé ayant un boîtier d'engrenage fendu
WO2020112867A1 (fr) 2018-11-27 2020-06-04 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Ensemble dispositif de levage pour un dispositif d'entraînement d'élément de fixation motorisé
CN111434466A (zh) * 2019-01-15 2020-07-21 米沃奇电动工具公司 驱动器刀片
US11034006B2 (en) 2019-01-25 2021-06-15 Robert Bosch Tool Corporation Pneumatic linear fastener driving tool
CN109571373B (zh) * 2019-01-30 2023-08-18 浙江荣鹏气动工具股份有限公司 一种双气缸电动钉枪撞针上的锁定装置
US11130221B2 (en) 2019-01-31 2021-09-28 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Powered fastener driver
TWI808135B (zh) 2019-03-06 2023-07-11 鑽全實業股份有限公司 電動釘槍
US12358110B2 (en) 2019-03-29 2025-07-15 Koki Holdings Co., Ltd. Driving tool
CN111791187B (zh) * 2019-04-04 2023-06-20 南京泉峰科技有限公司 钉枪
TWI795560B (zh) 2019-04-30 2023-03-11 鑽全實業股份有限公司 氣壓式釘槍及其位置異常排除方法
CN114096382B (zh) 2019-05-13 2024-07-23 米沃奇电动工具公司 用于电动工具的具有旋转磁传感器的非接触式触发器
CN110253503B (zh) 2019-06-11 2022-03-22 南京腾亚精工科技股份有限公司 一种紧固件击打工具
US12479074B2 (en) 2019-06-14 2025-11-25 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Lifter mechanism for a powered fastener driver
US11331781B2 (en) 2019-06-14 2022-05-17 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Lifter mechanism for a powered fastener driver
US12179326B2 (en) 2019-06-14 2024-12-31 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Lifter mechanism for a powered fastener driver
US11951601B2 (en) 2019-06-14 2024-04-09 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Lifter mechanism for a powered fastener driver
EP3990225A1 (fr) 2019-06-26 2022-05-04 Rhefor GbR Appareil de pose à guidage manuel
TWM599725U (zh) 2019-07-30 2020-08-11 鑽全實業股份有限公司 氣瓶式釘槍系統
US10946504B1 (en) * 2019-09-16 2021-03-16 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Fastener driving apparatus
US11491623B2 (en) 2019-10-02 2022-11-08 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Fastener driving tool
US11215245B2 (en) 2019-12-03 2022-01-04 Means Industries, Inc. Coupling and control assembly including controllable coupling assembly having speed sensor and methods of controlling the controllable coupling assembly using information from the speed sensor for park/hill-hold operations
WO2021113570A1 (fr) * 2019-12-06 2021-06-10 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Dispositif d'entraînement d'élément de fixation mû par ressort à gaz
CN113070849B (zh) * 2020-01-06 2024-07-19 朱益民 一种打钉工具
US11286996B2 (en) 2020-02-12 2022-03-29 Means Industries, Inc. Electro-dynamic coupling and control assembly and switchable linear actuator device for use therein
TWI826668B (zh) * 2020-03-17 2023-12-21 鑽全實業股份有限公司 電動釘槍
WO2021195188A1 (fr) 2020-03-25 2021-09-30 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Dispositif d'entraînement d'élément de fixation alimenté en énergie
DE102021104228A1 (de) 2020-03-31 2021-09-30 Means Industries, Inc. Kupplung und Steuerungsanordnung mit einem berührungslosen, linearen induktiven Positionssensor
DE102021107969B4 (de) 2020-03-31 2025-02-20 Means Industries, Inc. Kupplungs- und steuereinheit mit einem wegsensor
US11874142B2 (en) 2020-03-31 2024-01-16 Means Industries, Inc. Coupling and control assembly including a position sensor
US11542992B2 (en) 2020-03-31 2023-01-03 Means Industries, Inc. Coupling and control assembly including a non-contact, linear inductive position sensor
JP7332522B2 (ja) * 2020-03-31 2023-08-23 株式会社マキタ 打ち込み工具
JP2023524820A (ja) * 2020-05-05 2023-06-13 トリコード ソリューションズ，インコーポレイテッド 留具駆動装置
EP4488003A3 (fr) 2020-05-06 2025-08-27 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Mécanisme pousseur pour dispositif d'entraînement d'élément de fixation motorisé
AU2021267838B2 (en) * 2020-05-07 2024-03-21 Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc. Power driving tool with latch position sensor
US20230278153A1 (en) * 2020-07-01 2023-09-07 Festool Gmbh Power tools including electronic safety mechanisms with supervisory circuits
US11819989B2 (en) 2020-07-07 2023-11-21 Techtronic Cordless Gp Powered fastener driver
TWI853997B (zh) 2020-08-05 2024-09-01 鑽全實業股份有限公司 打釘槍及其送釘方法
CN114310795B (zh) 2020-09-30 2025-06-17 株式会社牧田 打入工具
US12162125B2 (en) 2020-10-30 2024-12-10 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Powered fastener driver
WO2022132500A1 (fr) 2020-12-16 2022-06-23 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Dispositif d'entraînement d'élément de fixation
AU2021400405A1 (en) 2020-12-16 2023-06-29 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Fastener driving device
US12202112B2 (en) 2021-01-20 2025-01-21 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Powered fastener driver
WO2022159538A1 (fr) 2021-01-20 2022-07-28 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Dispositif d'entraînement d'élément de fixation électrique
CN114868513A (zh) 2021-02-05 2022-08-09 米沃奇电动工具公司 用于割草机的非接触开关
WO2022235910A1 (fr) * 2021-05-07 2022-11-10 Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc. Outil d'entraînement d'élément de fixation à ressort à gaz doté d'un capuchon d'extrémité amovible pour réaliser une maintenance ou un entretien
US12083657B2 (en) 2021-06-23 2024-09-10 Black & Decker Inc. Fastening tool having a magnetic contact trip assembly
CN115609540A (zh) * 2021-07-14 2023-01-17 上海尹本工具有限公司 钉枪
CA3167425A1 (fr) 2021-07-16 2023-01-16 Techtronic Cordless Gp Pose-attaches electrique
JP7696774B2 (ja) 2021-07-20 2025-06-23 株式会社マキタ 打ち込み工具
TWI791263B (zh) * 2021-08-17 2023-02-01 力肯實業股份有限公司 電動打釘機之擊釘驅動裝置
CN115716256B (zh) * 2021-08-25 2025-01-14 南京泉峰科技有限公司 钉枪
EP4360809B1 (fr) 2021-08-25 2025-07-02 Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd. Cloueuse
JP2023066961A (ja) * 2021-10-29 2023-05-16 工機ホールディングス株式会社 作業機
WO2023070218A1 (fr) * 2021-11-01 2023-05-04 Soteria Industries, Inc. Système de mandrin de forage rétractable
CN217168397U (zh) 2021-12-07 2022-08-12 南京腾亚精工科技股份有限公司 一种防尘紧固件击打工具
US12083659B2 (en) 2021-12-23 2024-09-10 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Unbalanced roller on lifting mechanism
EP4537985A3 (fr) 2022-02-21 2025-07-30 Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc. Guide de fixation de magasin pour outil d'entraînement de fixation
JP7846354B2 (ja) * 2022-04-28 2026-04-15 工機ホールディングス株式会社 作業機
CN114851134B (zh) * 2022-05-07 2023-10-10 杭州科龙电器工具有限公司 一种钉枪冲针离合机构
US12251807B2 (en) * 2022-05-13 2025-03-18 Makita Corporation Driving tools
US12255501B2 (en) 2022-05-19 2025-03-18 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Power tool including a printed circuit board with a high impedance trace
US12472611B2 (en) * 2022-05-31 2025-11-18 Techtronic Cordless Gp Peg driver
DE102023114861A1 (de) * 2022-06-09 2023-12-14 Basso Industry Corp. Antriebsvorrichtung für eine elektrische nagelpistole
TW202348365A (zh) 2022-06-09 2023-12-16 鑽全實業股份有限公司 電動釘槍及其舉升裝置
TWI876177B (zh) * 2022-06-21 2025-03-11 鑽全實業股份有限公司 電動工具
US12434365B2 (en) 2022-07-15 2025-10-07 Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc. Microfastener driving tool with gas spring
US12395046B2 (en) 2022-07-22 2025-08-19 Techtronic Cordless Gp Firmware control providing a soft stop on compression drive nailer
US12337451B2 (en) * 2022-08-15 2025-06-24 Taizhou Dajiang Ind. Co. Ltd. Energy storage and driving mechanisms and nail gun having same
CN115781597B (zh) * 2022-10-31 2025-12-23 江苏东成工具科技有限公司 钉枪维护系统及方法
CA3217684A1 (fr) 2022-11-09 2024-05-09 Techtronic Cordless Gp Mecanisme de distribution d~attache pour pose-attaches
US12318899B2 (en) 2023-01-27 2025-06-03 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Powered fastener driver
US12479075B2 (en) 2023-01-27 2025-11-25 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Powered fastener driver
AU2024241823A1 (en) * 2023-03-24 2025-08-07 Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc. Fastener driving tool with cylindrical driver
US12521856B2 (en) * 2023-06-29 2026-01-13 Makita Corporation Electric driving tool
JP2025025662A (ja) * 2023-08-10 2025-02-21 工機ホールディングス株式会社 作業機
US20250162117A1 (en) * 2023-11-21 2025-05-22 Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc. Lifter with shield for fastener driving tools
US12403576B2 (en) 2023-12-12 2025-09-02 Robert Bosch Gmbh Jam shock relief mechanism for gas spring fastening tool
DE102025100721A1 (de) * 2024-01-12 2025-07-17 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Gasfederbetriebener Befestigungsantrieb
US20250262734A1 (en) * 2024-02-16 2025-08-21 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Fastener driving apparatus
DE102025106209A1 (de) * 2024-02-19 2025-08-21 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Elektro-Heftmitteleintreiber
US12420392B1 (en) * 2024-03-21 2025-09-23 Everwin Pneumatic Corp. Nozzle mechanism reducing displacement
EP4667160A1 (fr) 2024-06-19 2025-12-24 Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Outil avec ressorts à gaz et système de protection contre la poussière

Family Cites Families (63)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US860536A (en) 1906-11-24 1907-07-16 Robert W Ellingham Roller-pinion.
US1845617A (en) * 1929-05-02 1932-02-16 Latham Machinery Co Stapling machine
US1774967A (en) * 1929-08-03 1930-09-02 James T Ellis Piston for slush pumps
US2428452A (en) * 1943-12-11 1947-10-07 Westinghouse Air Brake Co Ring type cylinder and piston
US2575455A (en) * 1945-12-12 1951-11-20 Bocjl Corp Impact tool
US2814041A (en) 1955-03-14 1957-11-26 Emmett L Haley Power devices
US2840428A (en) * 1956-06-04 1958-06-24 Technica Establishment Packing for pistons
US2933290A (en) * 1958-07-03 1960-04-19 Jr Harold E Ryder Rack shaft locking means
US3150488A (en) 1961-11-22 1964-09-29 Emmett L Haley Power devices
US3589588A (en) * 1969-07-14 1971-06-29 George O Vasku Impact tool
US3661313A (en) 1970-07-22 1972-05-09 Illinois Tool Works Power device having improved feed mechanism
JPS519199B2 (fr) * 1972-04-03 1976-03-24
US3847322A (en) * 1973-09-10 1974-11-12 H Smith Power driven hammer
US3924692A (en) 1974-02-06 1975-12-09 Illinois Tool Works Fastener driving tool
US3913685A (en) 1974-02-06 1975-10-21 Illinois Tool Works Fastener driving tool
GB1559571A (en) * 1976-09-24 1980-01-23 Avon Ind Polymers Piston means for piston cylinder arrangements
US4215808A (en) * 1978-12-22 1980-08-05 Sollberger Roger W Portable electric fastener driving apparatus
US4986164A (en) 1983-06-13 1991-01-22 Senco Products, Inc. Pneumatic gun having improved firing valve
US4530455A (en) * 1983-08-11 1985-07-23 Senco Products, Inc. Piston and driver
US4724992A (en) * 1985-11-07 1988-02-16 Olympic Company, Ltd. Electric tacker
US4679719A (en) 1985-12-27 1987-07-14 Senco Products, Inc. Electronic control for a pneumatic fastener driving tool
US4741518A (en) 1986-08-26 1988-05-03 Wallis Bernard J Self contained gas spring interchangeable with coil spring
DE8711784U1 (de) 1987-08-31 1987-11-05 Demba Metallwarenfabrik GmbH, 2072 Bargteheide Elektrisch betriebenes Eintreibgerät
US4834278A (en) 1988-06-13 1989-05-30 Lin Chung Cheng Structure of dc motorized nailing machine
US4953774A (en) 1989-04-26 1990-09-04 Regitar Power Tools Co., Ltd. Electric stapling gun with auto-reset, energy-saving and shock-absorbing functions
AU637367B2 (en) * 1990-04-24 1993-05-27 Regitar Power Tools Co Ltd A transmission mechanism for an electric stapling gun
DE4032204C2 (de) 1990-10-11 1999-10-21 Hilti Ag Setzgerät für Befestigungselemente
US5199627A (en) 1991-03-29 1993-04-06 Christensen Jeffrey M Self powered magazine hammer
JP2568736Y2 (ja) 1993-12-06 1998-04-15 マックス株式会社 可搬形電動ステープル打機
WO1996012591A1 (fr) 1994-10-21 1996-05-02 Senco Products, Inc. Outil pneumatique de pose de fixations et sa commande electronique
JP3676879B2 (ja) 1995-07-25 2005-07-27 株式会社マキタ 締結具打込み工具
US5927585A (en) 1997-12-17 1999-07-27 Senco Products, Inc. Electric multiple impact fastener driving tool
US5941441A (en) * 1998-03-10 1999-08-24 Ilagan; Artemio M. Electric nailing gun
JP3626011B2 (ja) * 1998-05-11 2005-03-02 株式会社マキタ 釘打ち機
US6669072B2 (en) 2000-12-22 2003-12-30 Senco Products, Inc. Flywheel operated nailer
US6607111B2 (en) * 2000-12-22 2003-08-19 Senco Products, Inc. Flywheel operated tool
US7225959B2 (en) 2001-04-30 2007-06-05 Black & Decker, Inc. Portable, battery-powered air compressor for a pneumatic tool system
DE10135031C2 (de) 2001-07-18 2003-08-14 Hilti Ag Tragbares, brennkraftbetriebenes Arbeitsgerät, insbesondere Setzgerät für Befestigungselemente
DE10222338A1 (de) * 2002-05-21 2003-12-04 Hilti Ag Brennkraftbetriebenes Setzgerät
CA2479979C (fr) * 2002-07-25 2007-03-13 Yih Kai Enterprise Co., Ltd. Outil de clouage a main electrique
US6533156B1 (en) * 2002-09-09 2003-03-18 We-Chou Chang Pneumatic nail gun
DE10325920B4 (de) 2003-06-07 2005-09-01 Hilti Ag Über expandierbare Gase antreibbares Setzgerät
EP1591208A1 (fr) 2004-04-02 2005-11-02 BLACK & DECKER INC. Outil électronique de fixation.
US7040521B2 (en) * 2004-09-01 2006-05-09 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Gas driven actuation feed tube for combustion powered fastener-driving tool
US6971567B1 (en) 2004-10-29 2005-12-06 Black & Decker Inc. Electronic control of a cordless fastening tool
US7152774B2 (en) * 2005-01-03 2006-12-26 Aplus Pneumatic Corp. Nail gun
US20060180631A1 (en) 2005-02-16 2006-08-17 Chris Pedicini Electric motor driven energy storage device for impacting
US7225962B2 (en) * 2005-02-18 2007-06-05 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Nail advancement systems for nail arrays disposed within nailing tool magazines
US7494037B2 (en) 2005-05-12 2009-02-24 Stanley Fastening Systems, L.P. Fastener driving device
DE102005000062A1 (de) 2005-05-18 2006-11-23 Hilti Ag Elektrisch betriebenes Eintreibgerät
DE102005000089B4 (de) * 2005-07-13 2023-02-09 Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Handgeführtes Eintreibgerät
JP4930672B2 (ja) 2005-08-09 2012-05-16 マックス株式会社 ガス燃焼式打込み工具のファスナー送り機構
DE102005000107B4 (de) 2005-08-25 2014-03-13 Hilti Aktiengesellschaft Pneumatisch betriebenes Setzgerät
JP4505818B2 (ja) * 2005-09-30 2010-07-21 日立工機株式会社 携帯用釘打機
US7225961B1 (en) * 2006-05-11 2007-06-05 Samson Power Tool Co., Ltd. Air path arrangement for pneumatic nail gun
EP2077931A4 (fr) * 2006-05-31 2012-12-12 Stanley Fastening Sys Lp Moyen d'entraînement d'éléments de fixation
DE102006000395A1 (de) * 2006-08-07 2008-02-14 Hilti Ag Handwerkzeugmaschine mit pneumatischem Schlagwerk
JP2008068356A (ja) 2006-09-14 2008-03-27 Hitachi Koki Co Ltd 電動式打込機
DE102006035370A1 (de) 2006-10-27 2008-04-30 Hilti Ag Handgeführtes Eintreibgerät
DE102006035460A1 (de) 2006-11-27 2008-05-29 Hilti Ag Handgeführtes Eintreibgerät
DE102006000517A1 (de) * 2006-12-12 2008-06-19 Hilti Ag Handgeführtes Eintreibgerät
US8875969B2 (en) 2007-02-09 2014-11-04 Tricord Solutions, Inc. Fastener driving apparatus
EP2209593B1 (fr) * 2007-10-05 2016-07-20 Senco Brands, Inc Outil d'entraînement de fixation utilisant une source de gaz

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US12564925B2 (en) 2018-06-11 2026-03-03 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Gas spring-powered fastener driver
DE102018117519A1 (de) 2018-07-19 2020-01-23 Prebena Wilfried Bornemann Gmbh & Co. Kg Druckluftbetriebene Austreibvorrichtung

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20090090762A1 (en) 2009-04-09
US20140069671A1 (en) 2014-03-13
EP2243600A2 (fr) 2010-10-27
US11034007B2 (en) 2021-06-15
US20110290846A1 (en) 2011-12-01
US8286722B2 (en) 2012-10-16
US8230941B2 (en) 2012-07-31
EP2209593A4 (fr) 2015-07-15
US10478954B2 (en) 2019-11-19
US20090090759A1 (en) 2009-04-09
WO2009046076A1 (fr) 2009-04-09
US8602282B2 (en) 2013-12-10
NZ601490A (en) 2013-10-25
US20220126433A1 (en) 2022-04-28
US20190255689A1 (en) 2019-08-22
EP2243600A3 (fr) 2014-08-06
US8011441B2 (en) 2011-09-06
US12420393B2 (en) 2025-09-23
TWI379746B (en) 2012-12-21
WO2009046076A8 (fr) 2010-07-22
US20110278340A1 (en) 2011-11-17
US20110315736A1 (en) 2011-12-29
US8267296B2 (en) 2012-09-18
US8267297B2 (en) 2012-09-18
US20110036886A1 (en) 2011-02-17
TW200932442A (en) 2009-08-01
AU2008308801B2 (en) 2012-03-22
US8387718B2 (en) 2013-03-05
US9676088B2 (en) 2017-06-13
EP2209593A1 (fr) 2010-07-28
US20170266796A1 (en) 2017-09-21
EP2209593B1 (fr) 2016-07-20
US11845167B2 (en) 2023-12-19
US20130153251A1 (en) 2013-06-20
NZ584294A (en) 2012-08-31
AU2008308801A1 (en) 2009-04-09
US20210094161A1 (en) 2021-04-01
US20110036885A1 (en) 2011-02-17
US8011547B2 (en) 2011-09-06
US11241776B2 (en) 2022-02-08
US20240139923A1 (en) 2024-05-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US12420393B2 (en) Fastener driving tool using a gas spring
US8763874B2 (en) Gas spring fastener driving tool with improved lifter and latch mechanisms
EP3558595B1 (fr) Outil d'entraînement d'élément de fixation doté de capteurs de position d'organe d'entraînement
EP4393649A1 (fr) Mécanisme de distribution d'élément de fixation pour un dispositif d'entraînement d'élément de fixation
AU2012200927B2 (en) Fastener driving tool using gas spring
CN118003289A (zh) 用于紧固件驱动器的紧固件递送机构

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 2209593

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA MK RS

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA MK RS

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: B25C 1/04 20060101AFI20140702BHEP

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20150115

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: B25C 1/04 20060101AFI20150402BHEP

Ipc: B25C 1/06 20060101ALI20150402BHEP

Ipc: B25C 5/13 20060101ALI20150402BHEP

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20150424

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAR Information related to intention to grant a patent recorded

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR71

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20150930

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 2209593

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 762355

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20151215

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602008041338

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: TRGR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20160225

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 762355

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20151125

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160325

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160225

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160325

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160226

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602008041338

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 9

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20160826

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20161031

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20161031

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20161001

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 10

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20161001

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20081001

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20161031

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151125

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 11

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 602008041338

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: MUELLER-BORE & PARTNER PATENTANWAELTE PARTG MB, DE

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 602008041338

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: KYOCERA SENCO INDUSTRIAL TOOLS, INC., CINCINNA, US

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: SENCO BRANDS, INC., CINCINNATI, OHIO, US

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20250828

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20250908

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20250910

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20250902

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Payment date: 20251014

Year of fee payment: 18